text:
This action might not be possible to undo. Are you sure you want to continue?
Brian Tracy
Dedication: This book is dedicated to my three fine brothers- Robin, Dalmar and Paul – each of them remarkable in his own way, each of them possessed of fine qualities, buttressed by great habits, and destined for wonderful things.
Table of Contents
You Are What You Do
Chapter One
Where Your Habits Come From
Chapter Two
The Master Program of Success
Chapter Three
Becoming A Person of Value
Chapter Four
The Habits You Need To Succeed
Chapter Five
The Habits of People Who Become Millionaires
Chapter Six
The Habits That Get You Paid More and Promoted Faster
Chapter Seven
The Habits of Top Businesspeople
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Chapter Eight
The Habits for Marketing and Sales Success
Chapter Nine
The Habits of Personal Effectiveness
Chapter Ten
The Habits for Getting Along Well With Others
Chapter Eleven
The Habits for Health and Well Being
Chapter Twelve \
The Habits of Character and Leadership
The Focal Point Coaching Process
The Focal Point Telecoaching Process
About the Author
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Million Dollar Habits
Introduction – You Are What You Do
"Habit my friend, is practice long pursued, that at last becomes the man himself." (Evenus)
Thank you for reading this book. In the pages ahead, you are going to learn a proven and practical series of strategies and techniques that you can use to achieve greater success and happiness in every area of your life. I am going to share with you the so-called "Secrets of Success" practiced by every person who ever achieves anything worthwhile in life. When you learn and practice them yourself, you will never be the same again.
The Great Question
Many years ago, I began asking the question, "Why are some people more successful than others?" This question became the focal point of a lifelong search, taking me to more than 80 countries and through many thousands of books and articles on the subjects of philosophy, psychology, religion, metaphysics, history, economics, and business. Over time, the answers came to me, one by one, and gradually crystallized into a clear picture and a simple explanation.
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It is this: "You are where you are and what you are because of yourself. Everything you are today, or ever will be in the future, is up to you. Your life today is the sum total result of your choices, decisions and actions up to this point. You can create your own future by changing your behaviors. You can make new choices and decisions that are more consistent with the person you want to be and the things you want to accomplish with your life."
Just think! Everything that you are or ever will be is up to you. And the only real limit on what you can be, do and have is the limit you place on your own imagination. You can take complete control of your destiny by taking complete control of your thoughts, words and actions from this day forward.
The Power of Habit
Perhaps the most important discovery in the fields of psychology and success is that fully 95% of everything that you think, feel, do and achieve is the result of habit. Beginning in childhood, you have developed a series of conditioned responses that lead you to react automatically and unthinkingly in almost every situation.
To put it simply, successful people have "success habits" and unsuccessful people do not. Successful, happy, healthy, prosperous men and women easily, automatically and consistently do and say the right things in the right way at the right time. As a result, they accomplish ten and twenty times as much as average people who have not yet learned these habits and practiced these behaviors.
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The Definition of Success
Often people ask me to define the word "success." My favorite definition is this: "Success is the ability to live your life the way you want to live it, doing what you most enjoy, surrounded by people who you admire and respect."
In a larger sense, success is the ability to achieve your dreams, desires, hopes, wishes and goals in each of the important areas of your life.
Although each of us is unique and different from all other human beings who have ever lived, we all have four goals or desires in common. On a scale of one to ten, with one being the lowest and ten being the highest, you can conduct a quick evaluation of your life by giving yourself a grade in each of these four areas.
Healthy and Fit
The first goal common to all of us is health and energy. We all want to be healthy and fit, to have high levels of energy and to live free of pain and illness. Today, with the incredible advances in medical science, the quality of our health and fitness, and our lifespan, is largely determined by design, not by chance. People with excellent health habits are far healthier, have more energy, and live longer and better than people who have poor health habits. We will look at these habits, and how we can develop them, later in this book.
Excellent Relationships
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The second goal that we all have in common is to enjoy excellent relationships, intimate, personal or social, with the people we like and respect, and who like, love and respect us in turn. Fully 85% of your happiness will be determined by the quality of your relationships at each stage, and in each area, of your life. How well you get along with people, and how much they like, love and respect you, has more of an impact on the quality of your life than perhaps any other factor. Throughout this book, you will learn the key habits of communication and behavior that build and maintain great relationships with other people.
Do What You Love
The third goal that we all have in common is to do work that we enjoy, to do it well, and to be well paid for it. You want to be able to get and keep the job you want, to get paid more and promoted faster. You want to earn the very most that is possible for you at each stage of your career, whatever you do. In this book, you will learn how to develop the habits of the most successful and highest paid people in every field.
Achieve Financial Independence
The fourth goal we all have in common is to achieve financial independence. You want to reach the point in life where you have enough money so that you never have to worry about money again. You want to be completely free of financial worries. You want to be able to order dinner in a restaurant without looking at the right hand column to decide how hungry you are.
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By using your willpower and discipline. and take more effective actions than other people. One of the most important goals you must achieve to be happy and successful in life is the development of your own character. In each case. and if you are not happy with the current script. You can learn any habit that you consider either necessary or desirable. you can shape your personality and character in almost any way you desire. Million Dollar Habits – Page 7 . You want to become an excellent person in every respect.Developing "Million Dollar Habits" In the pages ahead. make better decisions. you will learn how to develop the "Million Dollar Habits" of men and women who go from rags to riches in one generation. You will learn how to think more effectively. as the result of practice and repetition. You want to become the kind of person that others look up to and admire. the decisive factors in the achievement of each of these goals that we all hold in common is the development of the specific habits that lead automatically and inevitably to the results that you want to achieve. you can rip it up and write it again. You want to become a leader in your community. You can write the script of your own life. All Habits Are Learned The good news about habits is that all habits are learned. and a role model for personal excellence to all the people around you. You will learn how to organize your financial life in such a way that you achieve all your financial goals far faster than you can imagine today.
George Washington became in every respect a "self-made man. he came across a little book entitled "The Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation." By deliberately practicing and repeating the habits that he most desired to make a part of his character. One day. Million Dollar Habits – Page 8 ." he developed the habits of behavior and manners that led to him being considered "First in the hearts of his countrymen. He came from a middle class family. as a young man aspiring to succeed and prosper. George Washington. By practicing the "Rules of Civility." As a teenage boy. your bad habits are responsible for most of your problems and frustrations. and his correctness of behavior. for the quality of his character." He learned the habits he needed to learn to become the kind of man he wanted to become. he copied these 110 rules into a personal notebook. if not worshiped. But that is not the way George Washington started off in life." He was admired. his graciousness of manner.Just as your good habits are responsible for most of your success and happiness today. with few advantages. He carried it with him and reviewed them constantly throughout his life. the first President of the United States and the General in command of the Revolutionary Army. But since bad habits are learned as well. is rightly called "The Father of His Country. they can be unlearned and replaced with good habits by the same process of practice and repetition.
when the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for the United States was debated. then one virtue per month. he would remind himself to practice that virtue. who began as a printer's apprentice and went on to become the first self-made millionaire in the American colonies. as he developed these virtues and made these habits a part of his character. He became enormously influential. Benjamin Franklin felt that he was a little rough. both in Paris as an Ambassador from the United States during the Revolutionary War. Million Dollar Habits – Page 9 .The First Millionaire During the same period. adapted a similar process of personal development. As a young man. He resolved to change by rewriting the script of his own personality. He then concentrated on the development of one virtue each week. on every occasion that it was called for. He began by making up a list of 12 virtues that he felt the ideal person would possess. as he went about his daily affairs. whether it was temperance. ill mannered and argumentative. he made himself into a person capable of shaping the course of history. Over time. negotiated and agreed upon. By working on himself to develop the habits of an excellent person. He recognized that his attitudes and behaviors were creating animosity toward him from his associates and coworkers. he became one of the most popular personalities and statesmen of the age. Benjamin Franklin. and during the Constitutional Convention. then three weeks. he would practice one virtue for a period of two weeks. Over time. All week long. tolerance or tranquility.
You Are in Complete Control The fact is that good habits are hard to form. but hard to live with. like the waves of the ocean. "Habits are like a cable. In either case. you develop either good or bad habits as the result of your choices. Horace Mann said. We weave a strand of it every day and soon it cannot be broken. Bad habits. In the pages ahead. you will learn how your habit patterns are developed. and then our habits make us. are easy to form. happiness and true prosperity. and how you can transform them in a positive way. moves onward and upward toward the accomplishment of every goal that you can set for yourself." One of your great goals in life should be to develop the habits that lead to health. You will learn how to become the kind of person who inevitably and relentlessly. The high purpose of your life should be to ingrain within yourself the habits that enable you to fulfill your full potential." (John Dryden) Million Dollar Habits – Page 10 . Your aim should be to develop the habits of character that enable you to be the very best person that you can imagine yourself becoming. "We first make out habits. but easy to live with. on the other hand. decisions and behaviors.
According to brain expert Tony Buzan. it soon binds us with chains of steel. Whatever you have accomplished in life to this date is only a small fraction of what you are truly capable of achieving. and habit allowed.Chapter One Where Your Habits Come From "Any act often repeated soon forms a habit. At first it may be as a spider's web. The psychologist. Million Dollar Habits – Page 11 . Compared with what you could be. The possible combinations and permutations of ideas. You could not exhaust your full potential if you lived 100 lifetimes. this number is greater than all the molecules in the known universe. Your amazing brain has 20 billion cells." The average person settles for far less than he or she is truly capable of achieving. steadily gains in strength. each of which is connected to as many as 20 thousand other cells. thoughts and insights that you can generate are equivalent to the number one followed by eight pages of zeros." (Tryon Edwards) You are extraordinary! You came into this world with more talents and abilities than you could ever use. everything you have accomplished so far is only a small part of what is truly possible for you. easily broken through. Abraham Maslow. "The story of the human race is the story of men and women selling themselves short. but if not resisted. once wrote that.
Coming From Behind I started off in life with few advantages. They go through life doing the very best they can. Most people never do. I worked on farms and ranches.The challenge is that you come into the world with the most incredible brain. When I could no longer find a laboring job. I worked in sawmills stacking lumber. I hoed weeds. I worked in factories and on construction sites. doing odd jobs around the neighborhood. My father was not always employed and my family never seemed to have any money. happiness and achievement. cold calling from door-to-door and office-to-office. I left high school without graduating and worked at laboring jobs for several years. I got a job washing dishes in the back of a small hotel. and raked leaves. delivered newspapers. For a time. and get my Million Dollar Habits – Page 12 . I was a galley boy on a Norwegian Freighter in the North Atlantic. I began working and paying for my own clothes and expenses when I was 10 years old. having and being all that is possible for them. but they never come within shouting distance of doing. and in the woods slashing brush with a chain saw. I was one sale away from homelessness. mowed lawns. I got a job in straight commission sales. For a long time. As a result. I earned my living by the sweat of my brow. If I did not make a sale that day. My biggest promotion at that time was up to washing pots and pans. you have to figure it all out for yourself. but you start off with no instruction manual. surrounded by unlimited possibilities for success. I dug ditches and wells. When I was old enough.
my sales went up and up." I soon developed the habit of asking everyone. and eventually I surpassed everyone in my company. This was not a great way to live. "Why is it that some salespeople are more successful than others?" With that one question. "Ask and ye shall receive. as I drove around.commission immediately so that I could pay for my room at the boarding house. In the Bible it says. Soon I was recruiting people with newspaper ads. I continually asked other successful salespeople for advice. As a result. And I developed the habit of immediately taking action on any advice or good idea that I received or learned. I went and asked the most successful salesman in my company what he was doing differently from me. Soon they made me a sales manager and asked me to teach other people what I was doing that enabled me to be so successful. The Key To Success Then one day I began asking that question. And my sales went up. And he told me. for the answers that I needed to move ahead more rapidly. and in every way possible. And I did what he told me to do. I listened to audio programs while I walked and eventually. teaching them the Million Dollar Habits – Page 13 . I began to read books on selling. and put into action what I had learned. I would be out on the street. and not surprisingly. "Why is it that some people are more successful than others?" Especially. I attended every sales seminar I could find. I did something that changed my life and began the formation of a habit that had a profound effect on my future.
If you want to be happy. there is an effect. Nothing happens by accident. popular. "God made the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. Everything happens for a reason. In no time at all. or chance. and sending them out to call on prospects and customers. Even today I am awed by the immensity and power of this simple principle." When you do the things that other successful people do. they were making sales and moving upward and onward in their own lives. you won't. This is the foundation principle of western philosophy and of modern thought. just find out how other people who are enjoying Million Dollar Habits – Page 14 . healthy. And if you don't. you will eventually get the same results that they do. or accident. The Bible says. prosperous. It says that for every cause. you will eventually get the same results that they do. positive and confident.sales methods and techniques that I had learned. It is not a matter of luck. This law says that. Nature does not favor one person over another. Here is one of the most important of all success principles: "If you do what other successful people do. even if you do not know the reason why something happens." Nature is neutral. there is still a reason that explains it. It is a matter of law. Many of those early salespeople are millionaires today. over and over again. The Iron Law Of The Universe What I learned from this experience was the great Law of Cause and Effect. This was an extraordinary idea for me.
I established 65 dealerships and imported and sold more than $25 million dollars worth of vehicles. You Can Learn Anything Over the years. I completed my high school and got a business degree from a leading university. I have worked in a variety of businesses and industries. And as sure as two plus two makes four. and did my research to find out how to set up a network of dealerships. I started off by asking. When I got into real estate development. attended courses. spoke to the experts. starting with no money and no contacts. When I became a sales manager. I read dozens of books on the subject. learned different languages. and in every situation. In every job. I developed and built a three million dollar shopping center and came out owning 25% of it. When I got into the importation and distribution of Japanese automobiles. Million Dollar Habits – Page 15 . I read every book and article I could find on sales management. I have traveled in 90 countries. I again read the books. Think the same thoughts. Within a year. and applied the ideas and principles to building and directing a successful sales force. and developed various skills. It is no miracle. "What are the rules or principles for success in this area of activity?" I then read books. Feel the same feelings. In the next four years. and asked everyone I could find for their insights and ideas.these benefits got that way and do the same things that they do. you will eventually get the same results as others do. Take the same actions. In my 30s.
These mental laws explain why some people have wonderful lives and why others do not. and then determining how those principles could be best utilized to achieve the results of the most successful companies. and then turn away and go about their day-to-day business. Million Dollar Habits – Page 16 . they would nod. I told them that they too could learn anything that they needed to learn to achieve any goal they could set for themselves. leave work at the earliest possible time. in my work with more than 500 corporations. riches and poverty. These principles explain happiness and unhappiness. Taking Control of Your Life But instead of taking this advice. I eventually learned that there are a series of universal principles and timeless truths that explain much of human success and failure. and good and poor relationships. and then spend their evenings socializing or watching television. revenues and profits in each business or industry. and then apply them to their own activities. When people complimented me on my successes. All they had to do was to find out the cause and effect relationships in any area of endeavor. If they did this. I began to study psychology and metaphysics. waste much of the day in idle conversation with co-workers and personal business. They would start work at the last possible moment. my entire focus has been on discovering the reasons for sales. they would soon get the same results that other successful people get. In frustration. health and ill health. smile and agree.Over the past 22 years. I eagerly shared with them what I had learned in each area.
You will soon develop the habit of blaming others and making excuses Million Dollar Habits – Page 17 ." Modern psychology calls this "Locus of Control Theory. if you feel that your life is controlled by other factors or people. your boss. You feel unhappy to the degree to which you feel you are not in control of your own life. your bills. your childhood experiences. you will have an external locus of control. You will think with greater clarity and perform at higher levels than the average person. by your job. You will feel like a victim. This location determines your happiness or unhappiness more than any other factor. As a result. Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania calls "learned helplessness. and that everything that happens to you is a result of yourself and your own behaviors.The Law of Control The first law that I discovered was the Law of Control. you will feel strong. if you feel that you are the primary creative force in your own life. For example. You will soon develop what Dr." Psychologists differentiate between an internal locus of control and an external locus of control. On the other hand. your health. You will feel like a pawn in the hands of fate. your family or anything else. you have a solid internal locus of control. Your locus of control is where you feel the control exists in each area of your life. confident and happy. "You feel happy to the degree to which you feel you are in control of your own life. This law says that." You will feel helpless and unable to change or improve your situation. that you make your own decisions.
tell other people around you that you lack certain qualities or abilities. philosophy and metaphysics. As a result of your self-limiting beliefs. The Power of Belief The next law I discovered was the Law of Belief. This is the basic principle that underlies most religion. This type of thinking leads inevitably to anger. in his heart (his beliefs). so is he. you continually "sell yourself short. personality." give up easily in the pursuit of a goal. frustration and failure." The fact is that. usually false. you see what you already believe. the ability to earn a high income. becomes your reality. it is done unto you. "Whatever you believe. Your negative beliefs soon become habitual ways of thinking. "According to your faith. but rather. the ability to lose weight. We will talk more about this later in this chapter. "As a man thinketh. psychology. the ability to speak publicly. it says.for your problems. that cause you to believe that you are limited in some way. creativity. with conviction." In the New Testament it says. but the way you are. and even worse. "Belief creates the actual fact." In the Old Testament." Your deeply held beliefs form a screen of prejudices that distort your external reality and cause you to see things not the way they are. The worst of all beliefs are self-limiting beliefs. Your beliefs then Million Dollar Habits – Page 18 ." William James of Harvard wrote. The Law of Belief says that. or the ability to achieve your goals. These are beliefs that you have developed through life. You may believe that you lack intelligence. "You do not believe what you see.
you do not necessarily get what you want. When you develop your mind to the point where you absolutely believe that you can do anything you put your mind to. your whole life will change. becomes your own self-fulfilling prophecy. This law says that." In developing million dollar habits. but rather what you expect. As a result. you will find a way to make that belief a reality. You can develop the beliefs of courage." In other words. this expectation has a powerful effect on your attitude and your personality. beliefs are the hardest things of all to change. You begin this process by imagining that you have no limitations at all. with confidence. The more confident your expectations. one of the most important steps you take is to challenge your self-limiting beliefs. confidence and unstoppable persistence that you need for great success by reprogramming your subconscious mind in a specific way. As we will discuss later. "Whatever you expect.become your realities. And anything that has been learned can be unlearned. but what you think. But there is good news. the more likely it is that you will do and say the things that are consistent with Million Dollar Habits – Page 19 . Your Self-Fulfilling Prophecies The next law that I discovered is the Law of Expectations. If you confidently expect something to happen. you are. "You are not what you think you are. It is that all beliefs are learned.
you will dramatically increase the probabilities that you will achieve exactly what you are hoping for. will happen to you throughout the day. no matter how it may Million Dollar Habits – Page 20 . And in some remarkable way. Popular people expect to be liked by others. in advance. They expect their ventures to do poorly. even temporary setbacks and failures. and always assume the best of intentions. And they are seldom disappointed. prosperous life. One of the most important things you can do to assure a happy. They develop the habit of expecting that something good will happen in every situation. The flipside of positive expectations are the negative expectations that many people have. a series of wonderful things. healthy. they expect the worst. Instead of expecting the best. both large and small. One of the wonderful things about expectations is that you can manufacture your own. is to expect the very best from every person or situation. Successful people expect to be successful. They expect to benefit from every occurrence. Happy people expect to be happy. They expect the best of other people. As a result. "I believe something wonderful is going to happen to me today. you create a force field of expectations that surrounds you and effects the people with whom you come in contact. Unhappy people expect to fail more often than they succeed. You can get up each morning and say. they are seldom disappointed." As you go through the day. They expect that other people will hurt or disappoint them.what you expect to happen. and because the law is neutral.
and that they then create a force field of energy around you that attracts into your life. The law of attraction says that your thoughts are activated by your emotions. If you think negative thoughts. like iron filings to a magnet." This law of attraction has been written and spoken about for five thousand years. You Are A Living Magnet The next law I learned about was the Law of Attraction. You will be amazed at the effect this has on yourself and on the people around you. This law says that. "You are a living magnet. Unsuccessful. you invariably attract into your life the people. Develop the habit of positive expectations. unhappy people are continually talking about the people and situations that cause them to feel angry and frustrated.look at the moment. you attract positive people and circumstances. positive. Successful. If you think positive thoughts. ideas and circumstances that harmonize with your dominant thoughts. either positive or negative. you attract negative people and circumstances. happy people continually think and talk about the things they want to attract into their lives. Like all mental laws. emotionalized pictures and images of the exact things you Million Dollar Habits – Page 21 . It is one of the most important of all principles in explaining success and failure. exactly the people and circumstances that are in harmony with those thoughts. One of the most important habits you develop is the habit of keeping your mind full of exciting. the law of attraction is neutral.
Attraction and Correspondence together." Million Dollar Habits – Page 22 . and in the world around you. Expectations. In every case. When you put the Laws of Cause and Effect. exactly what you are thinking in the deepest recesses of your mind. The way you think about success and prosperity will be reflected in the results that you enjoy in your career and your material life.want to see materialize in your life. you see yourself reflected back at you. The way you think about your physical body will be reflected in your health habits and your appearance. you arrive at the great universal principle that explains your life and everything that happens to you: "You become what you think about – most of the time. The way you think about people and your relationships will be reflected back to you in the quality of your friendships and your family life. Everywhere you look. This law says that. like a mirror image. Belief. People treat you the way you treat them. "Your outer world is a reflection of your inner world. As Within. So Without The summary law of the laws we have just discussed is the Law of Correspondence." It is as though you live in a 360-degree mirror. This is one of the most difficult of disciplines. but one that pays off in extraordinary ways. your outer world reflects back to you.
What self-limiting beliefs do you have that might be holding you back? What if they weren't true at all? 4. identify the three most important reasons why some people are more successful than others. and that is the content of your conscious mind. Accept complete responsibility for your life and everything that happens to you. Expect the best of yourself and others. what do you need to change in your inner world if you want to see changes in your outer world? Million Dollar Habits – Page 23 . Only you can decide what you think about most of the time. Everything in your outer world is controlled and determined by what you are thinking in your inner world. refuse to make excuses or to blame others for anything. And fortunately. you can control the direction of your life. 3. circumstances and situations into your life? How could you change this? 6. By taking complete control of your conscious thoughts. You always move in the direction of your dominant thoughts. By taking control. you will feel happy. Action Exercises: 1. Look at your field today. Everywhere you look. powerful.Just think! You become what you think about most of the time. what would you change if you were absolutely guaranteed of success? 5. In what ways have your dominant thoughts and emotions attracted people. 2. The good news is that there is only thing in the universe over which you have complete control. confident and free. there you are. this is all the control that you need to shape your own life and determine your own future. You will become unstoppable.
Million Dollar Habits – Page 24 . for through it you can solve every human problem. It is the open door to unlimited possibilities. what determines what you think about most of the time? Why is it that some people think thoughts that are positive. This knowledge is literally the gift of the gods. and yet so profound that they can be life changing. and how to get it most of the time. In short.7. constructive and success-oriented while others think thoughts that are negative." (Henry Ford) The great question for success is. most of the time?" Their answers are simple and consistent. "What do you think about. successful people think about what they want. Determine the three most important habits of thought. It should make of you an incurable optimist. "You can do anything you think you can. pessimistic and which lead inevitably to failure and underachievement? Many successful people have been interviewed over the years and asked the question." (Robert Collier) Chapter Two The Master Program of Success "The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what it is one's destiny to do. and then do it. about yourself and others that you could develop to be happier and more successful.
The laws are neutral. and what makes them unhappy into their lives." Your self-concept is the "master program" of your subconscious computer. Perhaps the discovery for me was when I learned about the role of the self-concept in human performance and behavior. Karl Jung. "the most important breakthrough in the understanding of human potential in the 20th century. B. Your Master Program I have personally read hundreds of books and thousands of articles on psychology and the functioning of the human mind. psychologists have worked to understand and explain the functioning of the human mind. and through to the modern day. feel and accomplish as an adult. think and talk about what they don't want most of the time. Whatever you think and talk about most of the time eventually comes into your life. success and failure. on the other hand. that the way your mind is programmed from early childhood plays a decisive role in almost everything you think. one way or the other. called the self-concept. For more than one hundred years. Starting with Sigmund Freud. It acts as your mental operating system. they have sought for the reasons for happiness and unhappiness. the Anthropologist. feeling. emotion. Eric Fromm. and decision you have ever had is permanently recorded on this mental hard drive. F. they attract more and more of what they don't want. William Glasser. Margaret Meade. achievement and underachievement. As a result. and moving through the psychologists Alfred Adler. experience. Skinner. Abraham Maslow. Every thought.Unsuccessful people. They have all concluded. and who is to blame for their problems and difficulties. Million Dollar Habits – Page 25 .
For example. You have a self-concept for what kind of a parent you are. you always act in a manner consistent with it. you will always perform below your true potential. these impressions then influence the way you think. You have a self-concept for how well you speak in public. You have a self-concept for what kind of a spouse or partner you are. You always act on the outside in a manner consistent with the way that you feel and think about yourself on the inside. You have a self-concept for how popular you are and how well you get along with other people. feel and behave from that point onward.Once recorded. but if your self-concept is poor in that area. and how desirable or attractive you are to members of the opposite sex. You have a self-concept for how organized or disorganized you are. Your self-concept explains why the mental laws have such an inordinate effect on your personality. You have a self-concept for how well you perform in each sport or physical activity. you have a self-concept for how creative you are. Your self-concept precedes and predicts your levels of effectiveness in every area of your life. for your memory and for your ability to learn new subjects. how well you manage your time. how productive you are. You may have extraordinary ability in a particular area. and how much you Million Dollar Habits – Page 26 . The Role of the Mini-Self-Concept Once your self-concept in a particular area is formed. It turns out that you have a "mini-self-concept" for every area of your life that you consider important.
spend and accumulate money." Your comfort zone then becomes your greatest single obstacle to improved performance. your habit of thinking with regard to money or any other area of performance. and how hard you have to work to earn that amount of money. You have a self-concept for your personal financial net worth. and how much you are able to acquire in the months and years of your life. You have a self-concept for how much you earn on an annual basis. You have a self-concept for how much you earn. You have a self-concept for how rapidly you are promoted and how much your earnings increase month-by-month and year-by-year. You have a self-concept for your ability to read. Every aspect of your financial life on the outside is determined by your self-concept relative to that way of dealing with money on the inside. write and do mathematics. invest. You have a self-concept for how well you save. this very soon becomes your "comfort zone.get done in an average day. and for how much you will be earning in the future. In your business and career. Million Dollar Habits – Page 27 . even though it may be vastly below what you are truly capable of achieving in that area. you will strive and struggle unconsciously to remain in that comfort zone. Once you get into a comfort zone in any area. you have a self-concept for every aspect of your financial life. Your Comfort Zone Whatever your self-concept. in the context of Million Dollar Habits.
You will use all your talents and abilities to get into and maintain that financial comfort zone. and you lose your job. and how you can act to alter or improve them in any way you want. you will be earning $100. if your comfort zone is earning $50. Million Dollar Habits – Page 28 . your subconscious and superconscious minds will always find a way to achieve that level of income. It is for you to develop new habits of thinking about what is possible for you. booms and busts.000 per year. with regard to money. depressions. is for you to raise your self-concept in that area.For example. Reprogram Yourself for Greater Success In medicine it is said that. The way that you accomplish vastly more on the outside is by changing your thoughts and feelings about your potential in that area on the inside. how they interact on each other.000 per year.000 per year. that is how much you will earn.000 per year. to increasing your income to vastly higher levels than it is today. "Proper diagnosis is half the cure. and it is permanently programmed into your mental hard drive as a habit. The key to achieving your full potential. Once you have developed a self-concept level of income. No matter what happens in the world around you. you will eventually stabilize at an earning level of $50. If you are accustomed to earning $100. or move across the country and start over. recessions." To that end. within a few months. let us look at the three parts of your self-concept. no matter what happens around you. and to enjoying the very best that is possible for you in every area of life.
the faster you will move toward becoming that person. and fantasies about your perfect future life. combined with the qualities and virtues that you admire most in yourself and in other people. It seems that you have a natural tendency to identify with the hero or heroine in any Million Dollar Habits – Page 29 . Because of the Law of Attraction. living the very best life you could possibly live. Develop Positive Role Models In one study conducted some years ago. High performing. The most successful people have an uplifting. Your self-ideal is made up of your wishes. This is the ideal image or picture you have of yourself. They have clear ideals about the virtues. Your self-ideal is a composite of the very best person you could imagine yourself being. happy people have very clear self-ideals. inspiring vision of what a truly excellent person looks like and how he or she behaves. and the more opportunities that will open up for you to make your ideal future vision for yourself a reality. They have clear ideas of what they like.The first part of your self-concept is your self-ideal. you inevitably move in the direction of becoming that which you most admire. successful. dreams. respect and admire. and the ideal person you want to be. hopes. values and attributes of the superior men and women that they want to emulate. as if you were already the very best person you could possibly be. The greater clarity you have with regard to the ideal future life you want to live. goals. the researchers found that many men and women who accomplished great things later in life had been avid readers of the biographies and autobiographies of successful people when they were younger.
young people who have positive role models around them when they are growing up are much more likely to become men and women of quality and character as adults than young people who have no role models. David McClelland of Harvard.story that you read. have an inordinate influence on the character and the aspirations of that person when he or she grows to adulthood. they have either unclear or contradictory answers. If you ask them what they consider to be the most valuable and important qualities in human character and personality. When you continually immerse your mind in the stories of men and women who have accomplished wonderful things with their lives. and held up as models in society during the formative years of the young person. With regard to the self-ideal. as often occurs today. watch or hear about. unhappy. virtues and qualities into your own personality. One of his conclusions was that the men and women who are the most admired." Million Dollar Habits – Page 30 . in his book The Achieving Society explains how role models have an inordinate effect on shaping the character and personality of the young. you unconsciously identify with those characters and actually absorb their values. to associate with negative influences and spent time with people who are equally unclear and unfocused about "the person they want to be when they grow up. unsuccessful men and women tend to be very fuzzy or unclear about their ideals. By the same token. or even worse. negative role models. This lack of clarity or certainty about what constitutes an ideal person often causes an individual to go around in circles in life. Dr.
The results that you get will Million Dollar Habits – Page 31 . Your outer world soon begins to mirror your inner world. How You See Yourself The second part of your self-concept is your self-image. that is exactly how you will act on the outside. and his book Psycho-Cybernetics. popular. and determine the results you achieve in the future.Your Values Shape Your Personality The values you choose to live by. and reflect upon how you could incorporate them into your life and behaviors. and the way you define those values. we learn that the way you see yourself on the inside largely determines how you perform on the outside. The way you behave on the outside will largely determine the results that you get. you become a different person. Maxwell Maltz. When you take the time to think through and develop absolute clarity about the key values and qualities that you admire the most. It all begins with you taking complete control of the formation and development of your personal self-ideal. you begin to shape and direct your whole personality. and wish the most to incorporate into yourself. productive and successful on the inside. If you see yourself as positive. you attract different people and opportunities into your life. and your goals begin to move rapidly toward you. You start to move more rapidly toward the achievement of your most important goals. As a result. shape and influence your personality and your achievements as much or more than any other single factor. Beginning with the work of Dr. As you think about your values.
Later. applying for a job. when you find yourself in that situation. politicians and performers do. your negative self-image will cause you to feel clumsy. and will set you up to repeat the same behaviors in the next similar situation. and imagine yourself as if you were outstanding at what you were about to do." This is the mirror that you look into prior to engaging in any performance. Take a few moments. This is the feeling or emotional component of your personality. or attractive. as athletes. Your self-concept is often called your "inner mirror.reinforce your self-concept. Your level of self-esteem determines the vitality and energy of your personality and is the control valve on your performance. One of the most important habits that you develop is the habit of feeding your mind with positive pictures and images of yourself performing at your very best prior to every situation of importance. the "reactor core" of your subconscious mind. awkward and inadequate in subsequent situations. actions and gestures that correspond exactly to the picture that you created a short time before. If you have a poor self-image. or entering into any event of importance. If you see yourself as confident and successful prior to meeting a new person. relax and let it go. that is how you will perform in the actual situation. confident. if you see yourself as not being particularly popular. Million Dollar Habits – Page 32 . Hold that picture in your mind for as long as you possibly can. or making a presentation. Then. in either a positive or negative way. The Core of Your Personality The third part of your self-concept is your self-esteem. your subconscious mind will remember the picture and give you the words.
You have more energy and enthusiasm. You feel happier and more exhilarated. and your self-ideal. your self-esteem is so important that you tend to organize your whole life around it. Whenever you feel that your current performance and behavior is consistent with the best person that you can possibly be. the way you would ideally like to be sometime in the future.Most psychologists today agree that your level of self-esteem is the most important part of your personality. The preservation and development of your self-esteem thus becomes the key to high performance. happiness and great success. In fact. or to protect against the loss of self-esteem. You are like the proverbial "long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. in every area of your life. Comparing Your Behavior With Your Ideal Your self-esteem is affected by many factors. One of the most important is the distance between your self-image. You are more positive and personable with others. and largely predicts your success or failure. Million Dollar Habits – Page 33 . the way you see yourself in the moment. Almost everything you do is either to gain self-esteem. Everything either increases your self-esteem or lowers it. Everything that happens to you either supports your self-esteem or threatens it." Every word or gesture of other people toward you affects your self-esteem in some way. your self-esteem goes up. The rule with regard to your self-esteem is that "Everything Counts!" Everything that happens to you and around you affects your self-esteem in some way. happiness or unhappiness.
The good news is that. "How much you like yourself. You feel happier and more confident. the person you would most like to be. You feel more positive and powerful. and the better and more effectively you perform in whatever you are doing. and in other areas of your life. You feel self conscious and embarrassed. whenever your current performance or behavior seems to be inconsistent or distant from the person that you would most like to be. Million Dollar Habits – Page 34 . and in other areas as well. You like yourself more. the greater clarity you have with regard to your self-ideal. the easier it is for you to tailor your performance and behavior so that it is consistent with being the kind of person you most admire. the happier and more confident you feel.On the other hand. are the words. And every time you do or say anything that you feel is more consistent with the best person you can possibly be. You feel capable of doing more and better things in that area." What we have found is that. the more you like yourself. "I like myself!" The more you repeat the words. Each time you perform well in any area. The most powerful words you can use to take control of your personality. your selfesteem goes down. and you perform even better in that area. "I like myself!" to yourself. You feel frustrated and angry. the better you do. the more you like yourself. And the better you do. and to build your self-esteem. The Best Definition of Self-Esteem The very best definition of self-esteem is. your self-esteem goes up. your selfesteem goes up. You feel anxious and unhappy.
are the words "I like myself!" You cannot say these words to yourself without feeling happier. if you do not deliberately plant flowers in the garden of your mind. with no encouragement or support. Fully 95% of your emotions are determined by the words that are running through your mind at any given time. If you do not deliberately fill your mind with positive.When I first learned this powerful affirmation many years ago. It does not remain empty for very long. it will fill up by itself with your fears. worries and concerns. my self-esteem was quite low. I had a vague self-ideal. It had a remarkable impact on my personality. Positive Self-Talk Shapes Your Personality One of the most important habits you can develop is the habit of talking to yourself positively most of the time. I had a poor self-image. constructive words. I began to repeat the words. especially if you repeat them emotionally and emphatically. Perhaps the most powerful words in your vocabulary are the words that you say to yourself and believe. I was plagued by fears and doubts. To counter these feelings. weeds will grow automatically. To put it another way. "I like myself!" ten. And your mind is very much like a vacuum. And the most positive words that you can use throughout the day. twenty and even fifty times a day. especially prior to any event of importance or significance. and tended to compare myself in negative terms with other people. Million Dollar Habits – Page 35 .
Take time to become absolutely clear about the virtues. you feel more positive and optimistic. and which you most aspire to make a part of your personality. the greater courage and confidence you have. most of the time. by your current programming. Expectation. Since everything you do on the outside is controlled by your subconscious mind." Your main goal is to take complete control over the evolution and development of your self-concept. Your self-concept determines what you think about. As your self-esteem increases.Every time you say. "I like myself!" your self-esteem goes up. The more you like yourself. the less your fears and doubts get in your way or interfere with your success. Your self-concept contains the roots of "learned helplessness. you change your reality. The more you like yourself. Prior to every event of importance. and shape your personality and you character into becoming an extraordinary person who can accomplish remarkable things. values. Attraction and Correspondence. create a clear mental picture of Million Dollar Habits – Page 36 . Your self-concept is the seat of the Laws of Belief." Your selfconcept represents your "comfort zone. And you get all the benefits of self-esteem enhancement by continually repeating "I like myself!" Supercharge Your Personality The higher your self-esteem. as you change your self-concept. the faster and easier it is for you to develop the Million Dollar Habits that enable you to accomplish extraordinary things with your life. qualities and attributes that you most admire. You become eager to set bigger goals and face greater challenges.
continually repeat the magic words "I like myself!" over and over again. extroversion. many people ask. or desire to have. and other unique attributes and qualities. The fact is that each child is born with no self-concept at all. and consider yourself to be a valuable and important person. are inborn and Million Dollar Habits – Page 37 . such as courage. musical interest. opinion. starting in early infancy. Every thought. especially when you were a child. Especially. consistent with the highest values and qualities that you have. Some psychologists say that fully 60% of personality characteristics. quality and attribute that you need to fulfill your full potential. "Where does your self-concept come from? How does it begin? How does it develop? What are the major influences that shape your self-concept and how can you change your self-concept once it has developed?" These are vital questions. The Foundation of Your Personality At this point. The more you like and respect yourself. belief or conviction that you have as an adult has been learned. It is true that each child is born with certain personality characteristics. athletic ability and so on. talents. feeling. the faster you will develop every other habit. leanings. idea. and there are definite answers for them. sensitivity. propensities. You have been taught to believe the things you believe by the people and influences around you over the course of your lifetime. until they are accepted by your subconscious mind and become a permanent part of your personality.yourself performing at your very best.
As a child. Million Dollar Habits – Page 38 . as the result of the things your parents do and say. But in terms of self-concept. often turn out totally different from each other. This is what soon becomes the fear of failure. Your Two Natural Qualities When you are born. cry. you begin to learn the two basic negative habit patterns that then become the most destructive influences in your life as an adult. when you feel completely relaxed and safe. You have no reason to be afraid because you have had no experiences to make you afraid. This is the ideal condition of the completely happy. spontaneous and expressive. you come into the world with two natural qualities. These are your natural qualities in a state of nature. with the same parents and similar upbringing. You laugh. pee. you are completely unafraid. This is why children born into the same family. surrounded by people whom you like and trust. The first negative habit pattern that you learn is called the inhibitive negative habit pattern. fully functioning adult. sleep and express yourself with no thought or concern about whether anybody approves or disapproves. your natural tendency is to revert to being completely open and unafraid. how a person thinks and feels about themselves relative to their ability and potential. risk and loss.innate. As an adult. poop. First. this is learned from early infancy. You are totally fearless. Starting early in childhood. The second natural quality that you are born with is that you are completely spontaneous.
my mother or father gets angry at me. "Every time I try or touch or taste something new or different. you have no way of understanding that this is because of their fear for your safety. your first reaction will be "I Million Dollar Habits – Page 39 . whenever you think of doing something new or different. This fear will then carry over into later childhood. Love is as important to the developing child as is food. adolescence and adult life. you merely react and respond with the idea that. as a child. "No! Get away from that! Don't touch that! Leave that alone!" Many parents reinforce their words and threats with spankings and punishment. feel and experiment with everything around you.your natural urge is to explore your environment. It must be because I am no good. Instead. It must be because I can't do it. Children need love like roses need rain. If you are discouraged or punished too often as a child. You eagerly reach out to touch. very early in life you will become fearful of trying new things. Thereafter. Any interruption of the flow of unconditional love to the child causes the child to feel nervous and frightened." Fear of Trying Anything New This feeling of "I can't" begins the development of the fear of failure. something that entails risk or uncertainty. It must be because I am incapable and incompetent. taste. When your parents become angry with you as the result of your natural desire and drive to explore your world and your environment. They say. Psychologists say that virtually all adult problems are rooted in the phenomena of "love withheld" in early childhood. But often your parents react and even over react to this behavior by discouraging you as much as possible.
"I can do anything I put my mind to!" The most powerful words that you can repeat. you will begin immediately to think of all the reasons why such a thing is not possible for you. Before you even try something new. you will talk yourself out of it. he gave the answer. "Less than one. Napoleon Hill. The most important habit you can develop for great happiness and success is the habit of repeating to yourself and believing." It is amazing how many people's lives have been dramatically affected by the influence Million Dollar Habits – Page 40 . You will think of the uncertainties and all the possible risks of loss that may occur. are the words. once asked an audience.can't!" As soon as you say the words "I can't" to yourself. in addition to the words "I love you. and accomplish more than they are today. author of Think and Grow Rich. over and over. to neutralize and overcome the fear of failure. They give up without even trying once. they automatically respond with the words "I can't!" And begin thinking of all the reasons why it is not possible for them. "What is the average number of times that a person tries to achieve a new goal before they give up?" After several guesses from the audience. You will think and talk in terms of failure. increase their incomes. Even though they want to improve their lives. rather than success. as soon as the new goal pops into their mind." The point he made was that most people give up before they try the first time. "I can do it! I can do it!" The kindest words that a parent can tell his or her child." are the words "You can do anything that you set your mind to.
to control and manipulate the child's behavior. you are too young to understand what is going on. The love and approval of your parents is indispensable to your well-being. with compliments and criticism. or criticism. a parent. especially to the opinions and reactions of our parents when we are growing up. You know only one thing. It is the key to your emotional health.of a single person. You therefore learn that. based on the behavior of the child at the moment. "You can do it. As a child. which then affects us for the rest of our lives. Parents often take advantage of this need to please to control and manipulate their children. the child is immediately affected and pulls back from the behavior in order to regain the love and approval of the parents. they immediately become rejecting and critical of the child. Parents very soon slip into the habit of manipulating the child with "carrot and stick" treatment. relative or friend. We are all sensitive to the opinions of others. The way they do it is by giving or withholding approval and support. is the fear of rejection. They alternate with approval and disapproval. who simply told them." What Others Might Say The second fear that we learn early in life. "If you want to get Million Dollar Habits – Page 41 . over and over again. When the child does or says something that the parents don't like. Since the approval and support of the parent is like a psychological lifeline to the emotional health of the child.
Instead of being fearless and spontaneous." When the fear of rejection becomes extreme. I have to do what pleases them." This feeling generates what is called the "compulsive negative habit pattern. I have to do what makes them happy. "I have to do this" or "I have to do that. you become increasingly sensitive to the approval or disapproval of others. and then your friends and associates.along. you go along. The Approval of Others As you grow older. they begin to shape their behaviors and conform to whatever they feel their peers will approve of at the moment. of your parents. "Every time I do something that Mommy or Daddy disapproves of. and avoid the disapproval. whatever it is. Million Dollar Habits – Page 42 ." which is characterized by the words "I have to!" As an adult. you begin to conform your behaviors to earn the approval. I have to do what they want if I want to be safe. the individual becomes so hypersensitive to the opinions of others that he or she cannot make a decision until he or she is absolutely convinced that everyone in the world around them will approve and support the decision. Therefore. Teenagers especially become extremely sensitive to whether or not they are liked or disliked by their peers. completely open. starting with members of your family. The child simply concludes that." At an early age. honest and expressive. The child does not know why the parent is behaving this way. they stop loving me. the child who was subjected to disapproval and destructive criticism becomes hypersensitive to the attitudes and opinions of others. They are continually saying.
but simultaneously. which is quite common in most people. of the loss of love of someone. In either or both cases. is the combined feeling of. Often. All the other fears that hold people back . of public speaking. the more you like yourself." The individual feels that he has to do something in order to win the approval of an important person in his life.the fears of loss. the child very quickly loses his or her natural spontaneity and becomes fearful and hypersensitive to others. of poverty. he is afraid of trying anything new or different. In other words. The higher your levels of self-esteem. The Antidote to All Your Fears One of the greatest discoveries in the development of the peak performance personality is that your fears and your level of self-esteem have an inverse or opposite relationship. destructive criticism is accompanied by physical punishment. the less you fear failure and rejection. of ill health. of embarrassment. and becomes extremely sensitive to the reactions and comments of anyone around him. the lower are the fears Million Dollar Habits – Page 43 .Like A Deer In the Headlights The worst situation of all. The root cause of negative habit patterns can almost always be traced back to "destructive criticism" in early childhood. of starting or trying something new or different – are all rooted in the fears of failure and rejection that begin in early childhood. "I have to" but "I can't. of ridicule. of taking a chance.
The first of these is the Law of Habit. The more you feed your mind with positive words. Self-esteem is everything. the less you fear failure and rejection. obstacles and temporary failures that will occur. "I like myself! I like myself! I like myself!" The most important Million Dollar Habit you can develop is the habit of deliberately building your own self-esteem and self-confidence on a daily basis. The more you like yourself. the more positive. the greater courage and resilience you will have to face the inevitable ups and downs of life. The more you like yourself. You go your own way. is to repeat continually the words "I like myself!" Whenever you feel doubtful or uneasy.and doubts that hold most people back. begin repeating these words to yourself. the more it is that you will persist until you succeed. and thoughts. and to neutralize the fears that may be holding you back. The more you like yourself. Fulfill Your Complete Potential There are four more mental laws that you need to know and work with in order to fulfill your complete potential. The more you like yourself. pictures. The more you like yourself. The very fastest way to build your self-esteem and self-confidence. And the more you like yourself. The more you like and value yourself. This law says Million Dollar Habits – Page 44 . optimistic and unafraid you become. the less you worry about short-term setbacks and obstacles. the better you do at anything you attempt. confident. the more willing you are to take risks and to endure the inevitable setbacks. the less concerned you are with the approval or disapproval of other people.
This law says that." In its simplest terms. if you will just repeat it often enough and long enough. the fire will eventually go out. As a result. and how to get it. either positive or negative.that. The second law that you must know and use is the Law of Emotion. If you think about what you want. The things that you think about most of the time are very much like logs on the fire. If you stop putting fuel on the fire for any period of time. this means that you can develop any habit of thought or action that you desire." Million Dollar Habits – Page 45 . We will talk about new habit formation and development in the next chapter. Concentrate on What You Want This brings us to the Law of Concentration. "Whatever you do repeatedly eventually becomes a new habit. "Whatever you dwell upon. more and more of your mental abilities will be focused on achieving the goals that you have set for yourself. grows and expands in your life. you must continue to put wood on the fire. when you discipline yourself to think only about what you want. "Every action that you take is stimulated by an emotion of some kind. most of the time. But since your amount of "thinking time" is limited." You can think of emotions the way you would think of a campfire. you begin to eliminate the doubts and fears that hold most people back. In order for the campfire to continue burning. you stop putting wood on the fire of your negative emotions. This law says that.
to coordinate your thoughts. the goals you want to achieve. but you can only think of one thought at a time. worries and concerns that preoccupy most people. You may be capable of thinking hundreds of thoughts in a row. One Thought At A Time Your conscious mind can only hold one thought at a time. And you are always free to choose that thought. plan or goal created by the conscious mind. the faster you will move toward them. This law says that. increases. The more you think about your goals and how to accomplish them.In other words. and the steps that you will have to take to achieve those goals. words and actions to bring those goals into your life. either positive or negative. Million Dollar Habits – Page 46 . "Your subconscious mind accepts any thought. More and more of your emotions and mental energies become focused and concentrated on what you are dwelling upon. 24 hours a day. The final law in this series is the Law of Subconscious activity. An essential success habit is the habit of keeping your mind focused clearly on the person you want to be. whatever you think about most of the time. and you will have less energy available for the problems. You will focus more of your emotional energy on them. and then organizes your thoughts and behaviors to bring that goal into reality. Your subconscious mind then goes to work." Whatever thoughts or goals you repeat over and over again in your conscious mind are eventually accepted by your subconscious mind.
your fears of failure and rejection. possessed of incredible untapped potentials and abilities. There are virtually no limits on what you can do. Whatever you have accomplished in life so far is only a shadow of what is truly possible for you. and everyone around you. you take complete control of the development of your self-concept and your personality. Of all creatures. only human beings can reprogram themselves and alter the courses of their lives. You move yourself onto the fast track in your life. Million Dollar Habits – Page 47 . and turn yourself into the very best person you can possibly imagine yourself becoming. You begin to move ahead at a speed that will amaze you.When you make a habit of thinking and talking most of the time about where you are going and how to get there. Your Potential Is Unlimited You are a remarkable person. By releasing your subconscious brakes. you can unlock your potential and accomplish any goal you can set for yourself. you lay the foundation for the development of the Million Dollar Habits that will enable you to accomplish more in the next few years than the average person accomplishes in a lifetime. be and have except for the limits that you impose on yourself with your own thinking. You can decide. to take complete control of the shaping and sculpting of your self-concept. right now. and by building your selfesteem and self confidence through positive self-talk. You step on the accelerator of your own potential. By taking complete control of the development of your self-concept.
How much do you like yourself? What are the experiences that give you your greatest feelings of self-esteem. Identify the primary causes for the effects in your life. Why are you where you are and what could you do differently to get different results? 2. What are your greatest fears? How would you behave differently if you had no fears at all? 7. What are the values. at last compels. What he at first chooses.Action Exercises: 1. words." (Orison Swett Marden) Million Dollar Habits – Page 48 . and the most important goals you want to achieve? "Man becomes a slave to his constantly repeated acts. What can you do. On a scale of 1-10. starting today. how much do you feel that you are in control of your life? What could you do to increase your feelings of control? 3. to feed your mind with more of the thoughts. What do you think about most of the time? What should you focus and concentrate on to improve your life? 4. and how could you create more of them? 6. people and pictures that are more consistent with the very best person you could be. qualities and attributes of other people that you most admire? What actions could you take to incorporate those values into your personality? 5.
Good habits are hard to learn. Bad habits. feelings and behaviors. The key to becoming a great person. In either case. once you have developed a habit. and the goals you want to achieve. feel and do will be determined by your habits. but easy to live with. it becomes automatic and easy. Like breathing in and breathing out." (Tryon Edwards) Almost everything you are or will be will be determined by your thoughts. actions form habits. just as you learn any other subject. all habits are learned. If you have bad habits.Chapter Three Becoming A Person of Value "Thoughts lead on to purposes. or if you have not yet developed the habits that you need to become everything that you are capable of becoming. and living a great life. is for you to develop the habits of success that lead inevitably to your achieving everything that is possible for you. habits decide character. Where Habits Come From Million Dollar Habits – Page 49 . you find it easier and easier to engage in thoughts. feelings and behaviors that are consistent with the person you want to be. on the other hand. are easy to learn but hard to live with. purposes go forth in action. Fully 95% of everything you think. you can develop these habits by a systematic process of practice and repetition. Fortunately. and are therefore learnable. and character fixes our destiny.
This process was repeated several times. over several days. They sometimes refer to the "SBC Model" of new habit pattern formation. It is very much like driving down the road and taking a fork in one direction or another. in response. you experience a certain consequence. you develop a new habit. as a result." First. good or bad. Behavioral psychologists refer to "operant conditioning" to describe how people learn certain automatic behaviors. Third. largely determines where you end up. These three letters stand for "Stimulus-BehaviorConsequences. you behave a particular way. Whichever direction you go.A habit has been defined as "a conditioned response to stimuli. often starting early in life. Different habits take different time periods to develop. Second. The Pavlovian Response In Pavlov's experiments with dogs. As it happens. you are born with no habits at all. one of the first major experiments on the role of operant conditioning. if they are habits that you want to get rid of. Each time the dog received the meat. the dog would salivate in anticipation of the Million Dollar Habits – Page 50 . If you repeat this process often enough. there is a proven system that you can use to accelerate the process of new habit pattern development. something happens in your life that stimulates a thought or feeling. You have acquired them all from infancy. if you desire them." but where do they originate? A habit is developed as the result of your responding in a particular way to a particular stimulus. or to overcome. a hungry dog was given a piece of meat and a bell was rung at the same time. Fortunately.
who has hurt you. Many people become trapped by memories of unhappy experiences. Fully 85% of your behaviors are motivated by what you expect to happen in the future. the thought of that person. or the sound of that person on the phone. will immediately trigger feelings of anger or sadness. by the anticipated consequences. even when no meat was present. As Simple As ABC There is another model of habit pattern development called the "ABC Model. the dog would salivate automatically upon hearing the bell. if there is someone in your life that you love and care about. If there is a person in your life. the very thought of that person. After repeating this stimulus-response action several times. or even the person's name. and the bell would ring.food. which have become habitual responses. will immediately cause you to smile and feel happy. stimulate only 15% of your behaviors. and are often unable to let them go. Million Dollar Habits – Page 51 . In the same way. either positive or negative. what has happened in the past. you can develop conditioned responses to people and situations as the result of previous experiences. What psychologists have discovered is that the antecedents. For example. and made you angry or unhappy." These three letters stand for antecedents-behaviors-consequences. usually from your past.
In effect. If you expect something to turn out poorly. such as capital movements in the international financial markets. As we discussed in Chapter One. if you are preparing to give a presentation. expectations and behaviors will then have an inordinate influence on the way things actually work out. Unfortunately. you do the things you do because of the consequences you feel you will experience as a result. or apply for a job. You can develop the habit of expecting good things to happen. and large matters. this will affect your attitude and behavior.For example. In other words. Only 15% of your motivation will be decided by what you have done in the past in similar circumstances. negative expectations also become self-fulfilling prophecies. no matter how they may appear at the moment. Your expectations then influence your attitudes and the way you treat other people. you can actually manufacture your own expectations. Expectations Theory explains small things. Your attitudes." The conclusions they have reached are that people are motivated to act in a particular way by what they expect to happen more than any other factor or influence. you can control much of your own future by expecting things to happen in a positive way. like what you do and say in a social situation. 85% of your motivation will be determined by what you expect to happen if you are successful. Expectations Theory There is a large block of work in psychology called "expectations theory. Your negative attitude then increases the likelihood that you will experience the Million Dollar Habits – Page 52 .
combined with a behavior.negative consequences that you anticipated. talk about and resolve to lose weight and become physically fit. you are in danger of dying at an early age. New Habit Pattern Development How long does it take to develop a new habit? The time period can be any length from a single second to several years. If you repeat this often enough. you will have developed the habit Million Dollar Habits – Page 53 . putting your hand on a hot stove or touching a live electrical wire will give you an intense and immediate pain or shock. This way of thinking will become a habit. But for the rest of your life. For example. you will develop a negative and pessimistic attitude. stops smoking and becomes a healthy and fit person. the doctor says that. the thought of dying can be so intense or frightening that the individual immediately changes his diet. can create a habitual behavior pattern that may endure for the rest of a person's life." Suddenly." or a "SEE. Psychologists refer to this as a "significant emotional experience. This may go on for years. Many people think. Then one day. "If you don't get your weight down and improve your physical condition." Any experience of intense joy or pain. begins exercising. The speed of new habit pattern development is largely determined by the intensity of the emotion that accompanies the decision to begin acting in a particular way. The experience may only take a split second.
Over time. These are habits of medium complexity that can be quite easily developed in 14-21 days through practice and repetition.of not putting your hand on hot stoves. immediately get up. listening to audio programs in your car. Decide clearly that you are going to begin acting in a specific way 100% of the time. starting with your most important tasks each day. if you decide to arise early and exercise each morning. we mean simple habits such as getting up earlier at a specific hour. planning every day in advance. The habit will have been formed instantly. or touching live electrical wires. and endure permanently. put on your exercise clothes and begin your exercise session. powerful. It is very much like a recipe for preparing a dish in the kitchen. Seven Steps To A New Habit First. make a decision. You can use it to develop any habit that you desire. proven methodology has been determined for new habit development. a simple. whenever that that behavior is required. According to the experts. you will find it easier and easier to develop the habits that you want to incorporate into your personality. or completing your tasks before you start something else. it takes about 21 days to form a habit pattern of medium complexity. being punctual for appointments. set your clock for a specific time. For example. How do you develop a new habit? Over the years. going to bed at a certain hour. exercising each morning before you start out. Million Dollar Habits – Page 54 . By this. and when the alarm goes off.
Sixth. you will automatically wake up minutes before the alarm clock goes off. tell others that you are going to begin practicing a particular behavior. the more rapidly this new behavior will be accepted by your subconscious mind and become automatic.Second. Don't let yourself off the hook. For example. Million Dollar Habits – Page 55 . visualize yourself performing or behaving in a particular way in a particular situation. Don't make excuses or rationalizations. Third. This repetition dramatically increases the speed at which you develop the new habit. discipline yourself to get up at 6:00 AM. you can say something like. It is amazing how much more disciplined and determined you will become when you know that others are watching you to see if you have the willpower to follow through on your resolution. resolve to persist in the new behavior until it is so automatic and easy that you actually feel uncomfortable when you do not do what you have decided to do. "I get up and get going immediately at 6:00 AM each morning!" Repeat these words the last thing before you fall asleep. If you resolve to get up at 6:00 am each morning. never allow an exception to your new habit pattern during the formative stages. every single morning until this becomes automatic. Fourth. Fifth. The more often you visualize and imagine yourself acting as if you already had the new habit. and soon you will need no alarm clock at all. create an affirmation that you repeat over and over to yourself. In most cases.
"I start and work immediately on my most important task" Sixth. Always be working on the development of a new habit that can help you. repeat over and over. Soon you begin to associate. One new habit per Million Dollar Habits – Page 56 . visualize and imagine yourself starting right in on a task and working at it non-stop until it is complete. and most important. the pleasure of the reward with the behavior. You set up your own force field of positive consequences that you unconsciously look forward to as the result of engaging in the behavior or habit that you have decided upon. Third. practice this process on any new habit you want to develop. at an unconscious level. never allow an exception until the habit is firmly entrenched. you can practice the seven steps described above. To overcome procrastination.Seventh. And seventh. make a decision to start in immediately on your most important task each day. Fifth. First. reward yourself each time you overcome procrastination and complete an important job. Make new habit pattern development a regular part of your life. Ever after. Overcoming Procrastination For example. Learning to overcome it is an exercise that will pay off for you all your life. you reaffirm and reinforce the behavior. tell others that you are going to stop procrastinating in a particular area. discipline yourself to persist every day until it becomes automatic for you to start in immediately on your top task. procrastination is a problem that bothers almost everyone. give yourself a reward of some kind for practicing in the new behavior. Second. Fourth. Each time you reward yourself.
It has taken you an entire lifetime to become the person you are. and never allow an exception. Here is the rule in developing new habits: be patient with yourself. of yourself acting exactly as if you already had that new habit. sixty new life-enhancing habit every five years. They very excitedly draw up a list of new habits that they desire for their work. their financial lives. their relationships. Tell others. and how positive patterns of thought and behavior can have a wonderful effect on their lives. At that rate. As a result. their family. They decide to improve in every area of their lives simultaneously. You should therefore select a single habit that you feel can be more helpful to you at the moment than any other particular habit. they often make the mistake of resolving to develop several new habits at once. Imagine yourself behaving as though you had already learned this behavior. your life would change so profoundly that you would become a whole new person in a very positive way. their health and their personal organization skills. Talk to yourself positively and tell yourself that you already have this habit. their business activities. You then launch immediately. Take It Easy On Yourself Where do you start in new habit pattern development? When people first learn about the importance of new habit pattern development. they very quickly hit a mental wall. Give Million Dollar Habits – Page 57 . It is not possible for you to change everything overnight.month will amount to twelve new habits each year. combined with a visual image. Write it down and create a positive affirmation. and no improvement takes place at all.
even decades later. You may drive one for years. even after many years.yourself rewards and reinforcement each time you engage in the new behavior. you can get onto a bicycle and within a few seconds. if you were required to drive a car with a stick shift. But only try to change one habit at a time. Many years. They don't disappear. However. They lurk below the surface. Your new habits may override and replace the old habits. but you never eliminate them completely. when you were young. Today most cars have automatic transmissions. you can be riding with the same balance and skill that you had programmed into your subconscious mind as a child. a stick shift. when the stimulus that originally created them is repeated. Being and Becoming Million Dollar Habits – Page 58 . For example. they become weak and withdraw into your subconscious mind. Eventually you began driving a car. When you stop practicing them. you learned how to ride a bicycle. waiting to reemerge at a later time. you would slip into the old habit of shifting gears easily and naturally in a few seconds. Permanent Fixtures of Your Mind As it happens. and instead discipline yourself to behave in a new way. Many people first learned how to drive a car with a standard transmission. old habits do not die. The old habits never completely go away.
anyone just like you. 5. There never has been. begin practicing it today. What are the most important results or consequences that you want to enjoy: what habits would help you to the most to achieve them? 3. Select one health habit that could contribute to your health and fitness more that anything else you could do. 4. nor will there ever be. What one habit would you like to have.You are unique in the entire world. The good news is that you are not just a human being." You are in a continual state of growth and evolution. The sum total of your thinking and experiences in your past is contained in your actions of today. and the way you interact with others. to decide and to act. You are a "human becomingness. all that really matters is where you are going. start it today. And where you are going is only limited by your own imagination. It is only your actions that tell who you are and what you have become. Million Dollar Habits – Page 59 . in your habitual ways of reacting and responding to other people. Action Exercises: 1. Select one habit you would like to develop in your family life. more than anything else? What one action could you take immediately to begin developing this habit? 2. shedding old ideas and habits and developing new ones. It doesn't matter where you are coming from. And what makes you different and special is your mind. It is you ability to think. Select one habit you would like to develop in your financial life and activities: define it clearly and then begin work on it today.
" Million Dollar Habits – Page 60 . what goals would you set for yourself? "What happens to a man is less significant than what happens within him." (Louis L. Mann) Chapter Four The Habits You Need to Succeed "Self command is not only itself a great virtue. As you recall. 7. whether you feel like it or not. but from it all the other virtues seem to derive their principle luster. when you should do it. the Law of Control says that. "Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do." (Adam Smith) The most important habit you can develop for success. or on the habits you could develop. "You feel happy about yourself to the degree to which you feel you are in control of your own life. have or be. Imagine that you have no limitations on what you could do." The habit of self-discipline is closely tied to the Law of Control that we talked about earlier.6. Select one habit that would help you to be more effective and productive at work and begin acting as if you already had that habit. achievement and happiness is the habit of self-discipline. Perhaps the best definition of self-discipline comes from Elbert Hubbard.
The more you discipline yourself to behave in the manner that you have decided. the more positive and powerful you will feel.Self-discipline is the key to self-mastery and self-control. with practice. This is why the happiest. whether you feel like it or not. Optimists are usually the happiest. The more positive and confident you will feel. Become A Lifelong Optimist Perhaps the most helpful mental habit you can develop is the habit of optimism. the more you like and respect yourself. The more capable you become of disciplining yourself to do what you have decided to do. Martin Seligman. The Source of Personal Power There is a direct relationship between self-discipline and self-esteem. your ability to discipline yourself to behave in the way that you have decided grows stronger each time you exercise it. most successful and most influential people in every group and society. self-mastery and self-discipline. The stronger and more in charge of your life and situation you become. in his book Learned Optimism. people learn to become optimists by thinking the way that Million Dollar Habits – Page 61 . healthiest. Like working a muscle. Every act of self-discipline strengthens every other discipline at the same time. And this is a habit you can learn. Every weakness in self-discipline weakens your other disciplines as well. According to Dr. most successful and most respected men and women in our society are all men and women of great self-control.
optimists think. They in effect learn to be optimists just as pessimists learn to be pessimistic.
We said earlier that the greatest discovery, and the summary statement of psychology, religion and philosophy is, "You become what you think about most of the time."
What is it that optimists think about most of the time? In its simplest terms, optimists think about what they want and how to get it, most of the time. They think about where they are going and how to get there. The very idea of thinking about what they want makes them happy and positive. It increases their energy and releases their creativity. It motivates and stimulates them to perform at higher levels.
Pessimists, on the other hand, are the opposite. They think and talk about what they don't want most of the time. They think about the people they don't like, the problems that they are having, or have had in the past, and especially, they think about who is to blame for their particular situation. And the more they think about the things they don't want and who is to blame for their problems, the more negative and angry they become. The more negative they become, the faster they attract into their lives exactly those things that they do not want to happen.
Developing a Hardy Personality
There is a relatively new field of medicine called "psychoneuroimmunology." Research in this area has concluded that the quality of your thinking has an
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enormous impact on the strength of your immune system. The habit of optimism, combined with a positive mental attitude, seems to strengthen and increase the tcells in the body which are responsible for resisting and overcoming the various factors that contribute to disease and illnesses of all kinds.
Psychologists have now developed a profile of what they call the "hardy personality." This is the man or woman who seems to respond positively and effectively to adversity and setbacks. He or she is optimistic and forward thinking. It seems that the more optimistic you are, the stronger and more resilient is your mind and body. As a result, you will have higher levels of energy and a quicker recovery rate from fatigue. You will seldom be ill for any reason. If you catch a cold or flu, which will be rare, you will bounce back quickly as the fortified t-cells in your body quickly counter attack and eradicate the infection that is causing it.
Think About What You Want
You develop the habit of optimism by disciplining yourself to keep your thoughts and words on what you want, and off of what you don't want. You become an optimist by thinking continually in terms of the specific actions that you can take immediately to achieve the goals that are most important to you. The busier you become working toward the accomplishment of goals and objectives that you have set for yourself, the more energy and enthusiasm you will have, the faster you will move ahead, the more you will get done, and the happier you will be.
Earl Nightingale once wrote that, "Happiness is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal." When you are working hour by hour and day by day toward the
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achievement of something that is worthwhile and important to you, your brain releases a steady stream of endorphins that gives you a feeling of happiness and well being. You feel more positive and creative. You have more energy and enthusiasm. This positive feeling acts as a reward or reinforcement that motivates you continually to think the thoughts and take the actions that move you even more rapidly in the direction of your hopes, dreams and goals.
The Orientations of High Performance
Optimistic people think very differently than pessimistic people. They develop a series of "orientations" or general tendencies of thinking that separate them from the average person. These orientations soon become habitual ways of thinking and acting that propel them forward toward the success and happiness they desire. Like all habits, these habitual ways of thinking are learnable through practice and repetition.
As you develop the habits of thinking in these ways most of the time, you become a different person. In a way, these are the habits of "mental fitness." Just as you would become physically fit if you went to health club and worked out with the equipment regularly, you become mentally fit, positive and optimistic, as you work out your mind practicing these orientations.
Think About The Future
The first way of thinking practiced by optimists is future-orientation. Optimists are those who develop the habit of "idealization." In the process of idealizing, you
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take your thoughts off the present situation and you instead imagine a perfect future for yourself in your business, your finances, your family, your health or any other area. You imagine that you have a "magic wand" that you could wave and create your ideal future vision. Instead of worrying or becoming preoccupied with the details of the present moment, you ask yourself, "What would I ideally like to be, have or do sometime in the future?"
You develop the habit of practicing "back from the future" thinking. In this type of thinking, you project forward into the future to your ideal result and imagine what it would look like in every way. You then look back to the present and ask yourself, "What would I have to do, starting today, to create the ideal future that I desire?"
You develop the habit of "long-time perspective." Instead of focusing continually on the moment, and on immediate actions and gratification, you instead think longterm about what you want and where you are going. The greater clarity you have with regard to the results you want to achieve in the future, the better and more accurate will be your decisions in the present moment. When you idealize and practice long-term thinking, you find yourself setting much better goals and priorities in your day-to-day life.
Think About Your Goals
Goal-orientation is the second quality or way of thinking practiced by optimists and all successful people. In future-orientation, you develop a clear, ideal image of what you want to accomplish sometime in the future. With goal-orientation, you
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crystallize that image into specific, measurable, detailed goals and objectives that you will need to accomplish to achieve that ideal future vision.
Successful people soon develop the habits of personal strategic planning. They sit down and make a list of exactly what they want to accomplish in the short, medium and long term. They then use a powerful, seven-part goal setting methodology to create blueprints and plans of action that they follow every day.
Once you develop the habit of setting goals and making plans for their accomplishment, it will become as natural for you as breathing. By following a proven goal setting process, you will increase the likelihood of achieving your goals by as much as ten times, by 1000% or more. This is just not a theory; it has been proven and demonstrated on a national basis.
In February 2003, USA Today reported on a study of people who had set New Year's Resolutions the year before. They found of the people who had set New Year's Resolutions, but not in writing, only 4% had followed through. But of those people who had written down their New Year's Resolutions, fully 46% had carried them out. This is a difference in success rates of more than 1100%!
The Seven Step Formula for Goal Setting
There are many formulas and recipes for goal setting. As a rule, "Any plan is better than no plan at all." Here is one of the best and most effective goal setting plans or formulas you will ever learn:
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Step One: Decide exactly what you want in a specific area and write it down clearly, in detail. Make it measurable and specific.
Step Two: Set a deadline for the achievement of the goal. If it is a large goal, break it down into smaller parts and set sub-deadlines.
Step Three: Make a list of everything that you will have to do to achieve this goal. As you think of new items, add them to your list until it is complete.
Step Four: Organize your list of action steps into a plan. A plan is organized on the basis of two elements, priority and sequence.
In organizing by priorities, you determine the most important things that you can possibly do on your list to achieve your goal. The 80/20 Rule applies. 20% of the things that you do will account for 80% of your results. If you do not set clear priorities, you will "major in minors" and spend much of your time doing small and irrelevant tasks that do not help you to achieve the goal.
In organizing by sequence, you determine what has to be done before something else can be done. There are always activities that are dependent upon other activities being completed in advance. What are they, and what is the logical order or sequence?
Step Five: Identify the obstacles or limitations that might hold you back from achieving your goal, both in the situation and within yourself. Ask yourself, "Why have I not achieved this goal already?"
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It could be a certain amount of money. The habit of doing something every single day that moves you toward an important goal develops within you the power of momentum. But do something immediately to start the process of goal attainment moving forward. It could be an additional skill or habit that you need. I have spoken to people all over the world. Step Seven: Do something every day that moves you to toward your most important goal. Make a habit of getting up each morning. for many years. identify it clearly and go to work to eliminate it. anything. immediately take action of some kind toward the achievement of your goal. Whatever it is. Do the first thing that comes to mind. you begin moving faster and faster toward your goal. It could be the help or assistance of one or more people. that moves you at least one step closer to what is most important to you. Step Six: Once you have determined your goal. planning your day and then doing something. who have told me that the habit of taking action every day on one or more of their major goals has been Million Dollar Habits – Page 68 . As a result.Identify the most important constraint or limitation that is holding you back and then focus on removing that obstacle. and activates the Law of Attraction. or a key resource. developed your plan. and your goal begins moving faster and faster toward you. Step out in faith. Daily action deepens your belief that the goal is achievable. and identified your major obstacle. It could be additional information you require.
open your spiral notebook and start a new page. Your subconscious mind is only activated by commands that are stated in the present. as though you have already achieved them.life-transforming. before you start out. "I earn X number of dollars by such and such a date. Each morning. So instead of writing a goal such as.)" Instead of saying." The more specific you can be in terms of what you want and when you want to achieve it. "I am going to lose weight in the months ahead. expressed in the positive. I always begin with the words "My goals are the following: . positive." you would write instead. and resolve to keep it nearby for the rest of your life. and beginning with the word Million Dollar Habits – Page 69 . "I will earn more money over the next year. Set Your Goals Each Day One of the most important habits you can develop is the habit of daily goal setting. present tense. Try it for yourself and see. They have told me that this single habit has been more responsible for their success than any other idea they ever learned. . personal tense." You then write down your top 10-15 goals in the present tense. Countless people I have taught this to have told me over the years that the power of this process is absolutely incredible! Daily goal setting is quite simple." you would say. Get a spiral notebook to write your goals in. . "I weigh xxx number of pounds by (a specific date.
you will have to develop and master one or more skills that you have never had before. They activate the Laws of Emotion and Correspondence."I. all skills are learnable. A skill is the same as a habit of performance. Positive. If you want to change something in your outer world. They increase your energy and stimulate your creativity. your outer world will always be a reflection of your inner world. present tense goals." The fact is that. As a result. Here is the good news. that is proof in itself Million Dollar Habits – Page 70 . Goals written and stated in this way activate the Laws of Expectation and Attraction. written down repeatedly each day. you are going to have to change your inner world in some way. this requires the acquisition of a new skill or set of skills. and like habits. to achieve something you have never achieved before. Almost invariably. They cause you to develop new beliefs about what is possible for you. personal. Think About Excellent Performance An important habit of thinking developed by optimists is the habit of "excellenceorientation. activate your subconscious and superconscious minds and step on the accelerator of your own potential. you start to move more rapidly toward the achievement of your goals and they begin to move more rapidly toward you. By the Law of Correspondence. If anyone else around you has developed a key skill that has enabled him or her to be more successful. You can learn any skill you need to learn to achieve any goal that you can set for yourself." the more powerful the effect will be on your subconscious mind. or achieve a goal that you've never achieved in the past.
You therefore ask yourself this question. you could be excellent at six out of seven key result areas. Bringing up your ability in this one area will usually have a greater and more immediate impact on your results than anything else you can do. Here is an interesting discovery. You must develop the habit of continually identifying and working on your weakest key skill. and your income. or key result areas. would have the greatest positive impact on my career?" This is one of the most important questions that you ask and answer throughout your career. you are being held back by your weaknesses in other areas. Million Dollar Habits – Page 71 . "What one skill.that you too can learn and develop this skill. that determine most of the success that one achieves in any field of endeavor. if I developed and did it consistently in an excellent fashion. You have achieved your of success in your field today because of your talent and ability in certain key areas. But at the same time. Identify Your Key Skills Excellence orientation requires that you make a list of the key skills that are essential for success in your field. There are usually only about 5-7 skills. In other words. It is simply a matter of practice and repetition. Your first job is to identify these key skills and write them down. The rule is that your weakest key skill determines the height of your results. but your weakness in the seventh area will determine your overall results and rewards in that job or field.
you will like and enjoy performing in that area for the rest of your career. You are almost invariably weak in an area that you do not particularly like or enjoy. if I developed and did it in an excellent fashion would help me the most in my job?" Pick Up the Pace Sometimes I ask my audiences. and determines the heights that you reach. and develop excellence in a particular skill area. The fact is that you could be only skill away from doubling your productivity. It sets the speed at which you move ahead in your career.If you do not know the answer to this question (and most people don't). go to your boss or your coworkers and ask them." Exactly. make a plan. "What one skill. and accomplish more in your work than you ever thought possible. your performance and your income. Your "slowest kid" is your weakest key skill. "If a group of children goes for a walk. which child determines the speed of the entire group?" They will always reply and say. "The slowest child. What one skill could that be? Million Dollar Habits – Page 72 . But the reason that you do not like or enjoy that area is because you have not yet mastered that area. As soon as you write it down. And here is another important point. The acquisition of one key skill where you are currently weak could make it possible for you to use all your other skills at a higher level.
The only question is. concentrated. In no time at all. This means five to seven years of focused. work on your plan to develop the essential skills you need every single day. Make a plan. And there are no short cuts. you will be amazed at how quickly your life changes for the better. Set it as a goal. "Where are you going to be five to seven years from now in your field?" The good news is that. five to seven years from now you are going to be in the top 10% of people in Million Dollar Habits – Page 73 . Five to seven years from now. if you set it as a goal. make a plan.Decide today to develop the habit of excellence-orientation. "Five to seven years is a long time to achieve mastery in my field. But I then remind them that. to be in the top 10%. determined work on yourself to get better and better in the key result areas that are responsible for your results and rewards. "The time is going to pass anyway. Sometimes people say to me." But the time is going to pass anyway. five to seven years will have passed. Find out what you have to do. The biggest regret that many people report is that "they did not start early enough. and work on it every day. Resolve to join the top 10% of performers in your field. The Pursuit of Mastery The reason that many people underachieve in their careers is because they do not realize how long it takes to achieve mastery in any field." This is very important. Extensive research in this area suggests that it requires about five to seven years of hard work for you to move to the top of your field." This is true. and how much you have to earn.
You will become unstoppable. it just means that they started work on themselves in a certain way earlier than you did. and focus all your energies on joining the top 10% of professionals in your field. after having started off in that field with no experience or skills. Your job is to put your head down. Nobody is better than you and nobody is smarter than you. Commit To Lifelong Learning Another key habit of thinking and acting practiced by top people is growth orientation. and is essential for you to develop if you want to move into the top 10% of your field. You are going to be enjoying the great results and rewards of the top performers in your business. There are no limits except the limits you place on yourself with your own thinking. Resolve today to develop the habit of personal excellence. The very fact that others have been able to excel in a field. Once you do that. get busy. If someone is doing better than you. This method of thinking and living is the foundation of excellence orientation. your entire future will open up in front of you. you can do as well. And whatever anyone else has done. and go to work on yourself.your field. It is the high road to excellent performance and essential to developing the habit of optimism. Remember this. You are going to be one of the highest paid and most respected people in your career. Million Dollar Habits – Page 74 . is proof that you can excel in that field as well.
performance and output in 2. performance and output by 1/10th of 1% (1/1000th) each working day. 1/10th of 1% per day improvement translates into approximately 1/2 of 1% per week. performance and output each year. you must exercise mentally on a daily basis to become better and better in your chosen field. you can increase your productivity. means that you will double your productivity. Million Dollar Habits – Page 75 .Growth orientation requires that you develop the habit of continuous learning. Increase Your Income 1000%? In my book Focal Point. Almost anyone who dedicates himself to continuous personal growth and learning can upgrade his performance and productivity by 26% each year. 2% improvement per month translates into about 26% improvement in productivity. the habit of continuous personal and professional development. what it says is this: if you work on yourself continually. An improvement of 26% each year.7 years. In summary. Just as you exercise physically on a regular basis to remain fit and healthy. compounded year by year. 1/2 of 1% per week improvement translates into 2% improvement per month. I explain my "1000% Formula" in detail.
by improving yourself by 1/1000th per day (1/10th of one percent). His previous employer pays him as much today. "How do you mean?" He smiled broadly and said. I was a bit surprised. you will increase your productivity. 26% per year. A young man approached me at the break and reminded me that he had been through my program and had learned this 1000% Formula some years ago. "I just wanted to tell you personally that your formula doesn't work. you will eventually Million Dollar Habits – Page 76 . I earned exactly 10 times what I was earning when I first heard that formula from you when I was 23 years old. I was giving a daylong seminar in Seattle. "It's too conservative. on retainer as a consultant." As you can imagine. he had earned more than $350. I asked him.000 and is now one of the top marketing consultants in the automobile industry in the Pacific Northwest. He said.Over the course of 10 years.000 per year. It only took me seven years to increase my income 10 times by following that formula every single day. This is an increase in your income of 10 times! Not long ago. Are these kind of results possible for you? Of course they are! The Law of Cause and Effect says that if you do what other successful people do. when he was in his early 20s." He told me that his income as a car salesman seven years ago was $35. It doesn't take 10 years. In the previous year. Last year. as he used to pay him for working full time. performance and rewards by 1004%.
You will eventually become one of the highest paid and most successful people in your field. review the day based on your new knowledge and skills and evaluate your results and progress. if you decided that you were going to develop the habit of listening more closely to people when they spoke. think of how you can use what you read to be more effective. weekly and monthly." In short. It is a universal law. Underline and take notes. and interrupting less. you will increase your productivity." For example. what this principle says is that. By practicing these activities daily. Think of how you can apply what you are learning to your day-to-day work. compounded. the very act of thinking about listening would cause you to become a better listener. There is an important psychological principle called the "Hawthorne Effect.get the same results other successful people get. There are no exceptions. Step One: Arise early each morning and read for 30-60 minutes in your field. "The very act of paying attention to a particular behavior causes you to improve your performance in that area. At the end of each day. This is not a wish or theory. everywhere. performance and output by 1/10th of 1% per day. Throughout the day. The law itself is neutral. Three Steps Onto the Fast Track There are three parts of the continuous learning process. Million Dollar Habits – Page 77 . It works for everybody.
the better you will become in that area. 50 books per year. You will become better and better at what you do almost without being aware of it. this will add up to about one book per week. you will tend to become better and better at what you do. the very act of thinking about being more punctual would cause you to become more punctual in your personal and professional life. both consciously and unconsciously. this will add up to about 50 books each year. The improved results you get will accumulate and compound over time. If you read one book per week. from a major university requires the reading and synthesis into a dissertation of about 40 to 50 books. A College Degree Each Year If you read 30-60 minutes each day. The average American reads less than one book per year. and think throughout the day about how you could apply what you have learned. When you read in your field for 30-60 minutes each day. to earn a Ph. If you were to read 500 books in your field. As it happens. If you continued reading at this level. If you were to read one book per week. you would be getting the equivalent of a practical PhD in your field each year. The more you think about a behavior. do you think that this might give you an edge? Million Dollar Habits – Page 78 . you would read 500 books in the next 10 years.If you decided that you were going to focus on punctuality each day until you developed punctuality as a habit. 50 books per year. in a world where the average person reads less than one book per year.D.
You must discipline yourself to leave the television or radio off. faxes and emails from my students and seminar participants. Learn From The Experts The second habit that you need for growth orientation is the habit of attending every seminar and course you possibly can. perhaps to arise a little earlier in the morning. or waiting for your company to organize and pay for additional training. anywhere. rewards and satisfaction that you will ever enjoy from anything that you do. You are responsible. to put the newspaper aside. I have filing cabinets full of letters. throughout the world. I have spoken to more than two million men and women in 25 countries. No one cares about your ability to increase your income and move into the top 10% of your field as much as you do. so that you can invest in your mind. This investment will give you one of the highest pay-offs in terms of results. I have never met anyone. Over the years. Do not make the mistake of waiting for courses and seminars to come to you. which includes your own personal and professional development. most knowledgeable. who has not transformed their lives and their careers by the habit of daily reading. No one cares as much about your future and your career as you do. You are completely responsible for your own life. most expert and highest paid people in your field if you were simply to develop the habit of reading each morning in your field for 30 to 60 minutes.The fact is that you would become one of the best read. Many of them write and tell me that they will travel Million Dollar Habits – Page 79 .
one good idea from an expert in your field can transform your entire career. be sure to attend. my students tell me that they have sometimes saved themselves years of hard work as the result of attending a single program. The type of people who attend adult seminars are a much higher caliber than you meet in your day-to-day life. If your organization has annual or national conventions. Over and over. There is something remarkable that takes place in an adult learning situation. have bigger and better goals. Sometimes. it has a subtle but powerful subconscious effect on you. Make it a habit to seek out and attend at least four seminar programs per year in your field. You actually become a better and more focused person by the very act of associating with other successful people in an adult learning situation or seminar. Eagerly seek out and sit in on the most important talks and lectures at each of these workshops or annual meetings. They are more positive. They will invest enormous amounts of time and money to acquire the additional specialized skills they need to move ahead more rapidly in their field. more highly motivated. When you spend several hours in their company. It is very different from attending a required course in college or university. Some of them have even gone to the top of their fields and become millionaires as the result of learning one new set of skills that was relevant and immediately applicable to their field. and are more determined to succeed.across the country in order to attend a seminar or workshop given by an expert or specialist in their field. Million Dollar Habits – Page 80 .
I discovered audio learning at the age of 23. And I agree. I was able to go from the bottom of my sales force to the top in less than six months. "The Psychology of Selling" has become the top-selling program of its kind in the world. I became a sales manager and trained dozens of people in the same techniques. When I began to listen to audio programs on a portable cassette player that I carried around with me. I was frustrated.Your University on Wheels The third habit you need for growth orientation is the habit of listening to audio programs in your car as you drive around. The average person spends 500 to 1000 hours each year in his or her car. like a purse. Million Dollar Habits – Page 81 . in sixteen languages. working long hours and broke. my life transformed in a way that I never thought possible. and as you walk or exercise. My own audio program. Many of them have gone onto become sales leaders and even millionaires as a result. or the equivalent of one or two university semesters. Eventually. By learning the critical skills of selling from experienced professionals who had been selling my product for many years. Audio learning is considered by many to be the greatest breakthrough in education since the invention of the printing press. Over the years I have trained hundreds of thousands of sales professionals in the very best skills and methodologies ever discovered in professional selling. This is the equivalent of three to six months of 40-hour weeks.
And when you meet that person. The good news is that an average person. If you have not yet developed the habit of reading each day. somewhere. who develops the habit of lifelong learning." The Race Is On There is a race on today. Reid Buckley. will eventually run circles around a genius who goes home and watches television each night.In fact. and you are in it. someone else is. whether you know it or not. "If you are not continually learning and upgrading your skills. the professional speaker. that person will win the race. The pay-off in improved results in your field will be tremendous. Inevitably. attending seminars and courses regularly and listening to audio programs in your car as you move around. you will lose. the University of Southern California recently concluded that a person could get the equivalent of almost full time university attendance simply by listening to educational audio programs rather than music as she drove from place to place during the course of the week. But the best payoff of all is that you will become more positive and optimistic. once said. somewhere. You will have more Million Dollar Habits – Page 82 . There is perhaps no habit that will more guarantee your success in life than the habit of continuous personal and professional improvement. someone else is doing this. and you will lose.
like nature. The person you are may have been determined by your childhood experiences. the person that you may be. Continuous learning. It is not your thinking of the past. Resolve today to develop the habit of talking to yourself in a positive way. and the pay-off from continuous learning will last you all the days of your life. that determines the course of your destiny. your self-talk. Say Million Dollar Habits – Page 83 . It increases your intelligence and creativity and puts you onto the fast track in your career. It enables people to go from rags to riches.energy. But the person that you become. You become an optimist by taking control of your inner dialogue. be more creative and be a happier person as you continue to grow and grow toward the realization of your full potential. And you can take complete control of those thoughts at any time you decide to. is neutral. that "You become what you think about most of the time" refers to what you are thinking today. The great principle. Everything you are. or your thinking in the future. Continuous learning opens every door for you. is determined by the thoughts that you think at each moment. You Determine Your Own Destiny Each person is essentially self-made. It enables people to rise from poverty and frustration to affluence and success. at this very moment. is completely under your own control. It is one of the best habits you can ever develop. Anyone can use it to accomplish extraordinary things in life. The habit of continuous learning enables average people to become top performers in their fields. and everything you will be.
positive. you send a message that activates your subconscious mind. Each time you create a mental image in your conscious mind. and of your goals as if they were already achieved. Use your self-discipline and self-control to think and talk about the things you want. always reply by saying "I feel terrific!" When you think about your job. "I can do it!" over and over again.things to yourself like. Develop the habit of creating clear. rather than allowing your mind to become preoccupied with the things that you don't want. Positive. successful people make a habit of continually visualizing the outcomes that they desire. thereby programming their subconscious minds and shaping their self-image and their external performance. and moves you toward the realization of that mental picture in your external world. "I love my work! I love my work!" Fully 95% of your emotions are determined by the things you think and the words you say to yourself as you go throughout your day. triggers the Law of Attraction. stimulates your creativity. repeat to yourself. or with your doubts and fears. "I like myself!" Say. If someone asks you how you are feeling today. What You See Is What You Will Be The most powerful affirmation or message that you can send from your conscious mind to your subconscious mind is a visualization or mental image. Million Dollar Habits – Page 84 . exciting pictures of yourself performing at your best.
Your mind is your most important and precious asset. television. Positive thoughts and words make you more optimistic. Million Dollar Habits – Page 85 . billboards or conversations with other people. Remember. optimistic and happy. you are very susceptible to the suggested influences in your environment. If you want to be positive. give you more energy. rapes and tragedies in the newspapers. You must protect it and keep it clean. newspapers.But best of all is when you combine positive self-talk with positive mental imaging. rather than allowing it to be polluted by the negative influences around you. Feed Your Mind With Mental Protein Develop the habit of feeding your mind with positive mental food. Refuse to listen to endless hours of mindless radio commentary on all the problems in the modern world. clear. Refuse to watch terror or trash on television. positive and free. You talk about the things you want and you create exciting mental pictures of your goals and desires as if they already existed in your reality. but also you become what you feed into your mind on a regular basis. enable you to bounce back faster from disappointment and keep you moving forward throughout the day. Refuse to read about all the murders. magazines. whether radio. as well. robberies. Not only do you become what you think about. Keep your mind clean. clear and focused on what you want. Refuse to engage in endless conversations with people about all the political and social problems in your nation or community.
In every study of successful people. in becoming everything that you are capable of becoming. The fact is that. Do not drink coffee with whoever is sitting there." Or as Zig Ziglar says. David McClelland found that fully your "reference group" would determine as much as 95% of your success or failure in life. respect and want to be like. Do not socialize after work with whoever invites you. members of your political party. "You can't fly with the eagles if you continue to scratch with the turkeys. church or social organizations. Get Around The Right People Make it a habit to only associate with the kind of people that you like admire. Be very conscientious and clear about the kind of people that you are going to allow to influence your thinking and feeling by their conversations and opinions. and positive conversations with other optimistic goal-oriented people who are going somewhere with their lives. positive input and information from other experts in your field. develop the habit of action orientation." Take Action on Your Goals and Plans Finally. "Birds of a feather flock together. in virtually every Million Dollar Habits – Page 86 . Do not go out for lunch with whoever is standing at the door. your coworkers. positive audio learning programs. These can be members of your family. Dr. These are the people that you habitually associate with and consider yourself to be one of.continually feed your mind with positive books and articles.
background. Managers and executives who were on the fast track were constantly moving out of their comfort zone and taking the initiative to try new things in new areas. Action orientation means that you develop the habit of moving quickly when you have an idea or opportunity. On the other hand. managers who were being continually passed over for promotion were continually waiting for someone to come along and tell them what to do. those whose careers has flattened out and those whose careers were moving upward and onward at a rapid rate. you act immediately to do something in the present. networking or intelligence. Once they had been given clear instructions. they seemed to be quite Million Dollar Habits – Page 87 . The critical difference between success and failure was contained in the habit of taking the initiative. You think continually in terms of the specific actions that you can take now to move closer to achieving a goal or getting a result that is important to you.field. Instead of talking endlessly about what you are going to do in the future. Winners and Losers The American Management Association reported on a study of managers who had been divided into two groups. They interviewed both groups to try to determine the differences that accounted for their relative levels of success and failure. the quality of action orientation emerges as the most outwardly identifiable quality of people who are going somewhere in their lives and careers. What they finally concluded was that it was not education. experience.
You Can Do It Once you have defined your ideal future. and committed yourself to continuous learning.competent at carrying out their responsibilities. It is not easy to change your entire way of thinking and become an extraordinary person as the result of your own efforts. and your own work on yourself. take the initiative to change or improve whatever situation you find yourself in. developed a strategy for achieving excellence in your field. when you accept complete responsibility and take full control over the evolution and development of your own character and personality. Million Dollar Habits – Page 88 . set and determined your goals and plans. develop the habit of moving quickly and taking the initiative in each area of your life that is important to you. Researchers have found that there is a direct relationship between how quickly you take action on a new idea. But the idea of initiating in the first place was alien to them. and this book. is action. Instead of waiting for things to get better. but the specific actions that you take. The most important part of this chapter. and how likely it is that you will ever take action on any idea at all. But it is definitely possible. Instead of waiting for things to happen. The very act of moving quickly in one area seems to develop the habit of moving quickly in other areas. develop the habit of making things happen. It is not what you read or learn.
Resolve to become known as the kind of person who moves fast on any new idea or possibility. Develop the habit of excellence-orientation by selecting one key skill that would help you more than any other. 3. 6. or to solve problems. 7. Develop the habit of continuous learning by reading. Develop the habit of action-orientation by taking the initiative. Do it now. or if you have an idea about something that you can do immediately that can improve some part of your life. 4. making a plan for its accomplishment. Million Dollar Habits – Page 89 . 2. 5. and working toward it. by daring to go forward.If you have learned something that is important to you in this chapter. and then working on becoming better in that area every day. by moving quickly on opportunities. listening to audio programs and attending seminars as a normal and natural part of your life. Develop the habit of writing and rewriting your goals in a spiral notebook each morning before you set out. Action Exercises: 1. Develop the habit of future-orientation by thinking and imagining your ideal future in your business or personal life. outcome or success you would like to have in your life. and then working on it every day. Develop a sense of urgency. and then decide upon the one habit that could help the most to achieve that goal. This can be one of the most important habits you ever develop. Hurry. Develop the habit of goal-orientation by selecting one main goal. Select a result. resolve to take action on it immediately.
To triumph over self is the perfect victory. you will easily master all else." (Thomas A."If you can win complete mastery over self. Kempis) Million Dollar Habits – Page 90 .
that is. Some graduated from the finest universities. to achieve financial independence and to eventually become a millionaire. Almost all of these millionaires and billionaires are first generation wealth. there were only 5. Others dropped out Million Dollar Habits – Page 91 ." (Orison Swett Marden) Your goal should be to earn as much money as you possibly can over the course of your career. centimillionaires. This is the most common financial ambition of Americans. add to it another filament. Five Million Millionaires In the year 1900. under our economic system. and it is eminently achievable if you develop the right habits. Fortunately. today. and more than 300 billionaires and multibillionaires. there were more than five million millionaires.Chapter Five The Habits of People Who Become Millionaires "The beginning of a habit is like an invisible thread. until it becomes a great cable and binds us irrevocably in thought and act. but every time we repeat the act. and some are not.000 millionaires in America. By the year 2000. Millionaires come from every conceivable background. here in America. there were decimillionaires. In addition. we strengthen the strand. they began with nothing and accumulated their fortunes in the course of a single working lifetime. becoming a millionaire has never been more possible in all of human history than it is right now. Some are well educated.
over and over again. Some of the very best research on millionaires was conducted by Thomas Stanley and William Danko and summarized in their book The Millionaire Next Door. no skills and not even the ability to speak English when they arrived. Self-made millionaires have been interviewed and studied exhaustively. you can accomplish as well. both individually and in groups. hundreds and even thousands of times. They started with nothing and passed the magic million-dollar mark as the result of doing certain things in a certain way. which has gone on to sell almost three million copies. "You become what you think about most of the time. Every newspaper and magazine seems to have an article or story about one or more men or women who have become financially successful in different fields and occupations as the result of doing certain things in a certain way. one of the smartest things you can do is to develop the habits of thinking and acting that have enabled hundreds of thousands. and even millions of Million Dollar Habits – Page 92 . They learned and practiced the Million Dollar Habits that we are explaining throughout this book. They all had one thing in common. And what others have accomplished. Others came to America as immigrants with no friends or contacts.of high school." If you sincerely want to be rich. to achieve all your financial goals and to retire as a selfmade millionaire. if you just learn how. Think Like A Millionaire I wrote earlier that. Some come from families that have lived in America for many generations.
They organize and reorganize their entire financial lives. in such a way that they are all coordinated and helping them move toward hitting those specific financial targets. almost 1. One road leads in the direction of earning. Instead of thinking in terms of accumulation. From an early age. and whatever else they can borrow from friends or put on credit cards. the majority of people think of spending and enjoying every penny they can get their hands on. each person comes to a crossroads. And no matter what road you Million Dollar Habits – Page 93 . They then discipline themselves to make whatever sacrifices are necessary to achieve those goals. their earning.other people to become millionaires. Accumulate or Spend Most people have the opposite habits with regard to money. or at a certain point in life. you must decide which road you are going to take. The first discovery about the thinking patterns of self-made millionaires is that they have the habit of thinking in terms of financial independence most of the time. by practice and repetition.5 million Americans declared personal bankruptcy as the result of borrowing and spending far more than they could ever repay. investing. These habits of financial success are learnable. saving and accumulating. insuring and spending activities. while the other road leads in the direction of earning. saving and financial independence. they become focused on achieving specific financial goals. In 2002. as all habits are. spending and getting into debt. At a certain point in life. As a fully responsible adult.
gamble and think about making a killing in the stock market. with the idea that somehow. They discipline themselves to save and accumulate money over many years. Develop A Millionaire Mindset The business philosopher Jim Rohn once wrote. trusting to luck. They buy lottery tickets. someone else will come to the rescue. Take Charge of Your Financial Life The starting point of achieving financial independence and becoming a self-made millionaire is for you to accept complete responsibility for your financial life. The most important part of Million Dollar Habits – Page 94 . And they worry about money all the time. They instead go through their days. you are free to choose the road that you are going to follow from this day forward. and usually keep on going. and their money. They are patient. persistent and farsighted. or look for fast ways to make money quickly and easily. Eventually they pass the million-dollar mark. As a result of these habitual ways of thinking about their money. take risks.have taken up until now. They do not speculate. The fact is that serious money is long-term money. sometime. "Becoming a millionaire is not that difficult. They do not look for getrich-quick schemes or easy money. but it is not the most important thing. Most wealthy people organize their financial lives in such a way that their net worth increases about 8-10% per year on the amount of money that they have working. Many people never do this. each year their wealth grows.
" When you become the kind of person who can earn and accumulate a million dollars or more. They never buy if they can lease. They allocate their funds carefully and with great deliberation. personality and set of habits if you are to achieve your financial goals. and they never lease if they can rent. you would be able to make it back again fairly quickly because you would have become the kind of person who can become a millionaire." This is a wonderful insight. The First Habit Of Millionaires Perhaps the most easily identifiable habit of self-made millionaires is the habit of frugality. and you lost all your money. you never lose it.becoming a millionaire is the person that you have to become to accumulate a million dollars in the first place. "The first million is extremely difficult to acquire. And once you become that kind of person. They know that. My financial advisor once told me. They never buy new when they can buy used. They never rent or lease if they can borrow. you must develop a completely different mindset from the average person who worries about money most of his life. Wealthy people are careful with every penny and every dollar. you will also be the kind of person who can earn the second and third million as well. Even if something unfortunate happened. as the Million Dollar Habits – Page 95 . but the second million is almost inevitable. and then hold onto the money once you acquire it. In order to become wealthy. You must develop a completely different character.
" George Classon. Even then. After two years. the seeds of greatness are not in you. for the entirety of your working life." For example. They wait until a good quality car is about two years old before they buy it. they buy the car and then they drive it for five or ten years before replacing it. all of which can be saved and invested and allowed to grow at compound interest toward your ultimate goal of financial independence. "If you cannot save money. Save Your Money Self-made millionaires develop the habit of regular saving and investment from an early age. off the top. you can save many thousands of dollars. wrote that the key to financial success is to "pay yourself first. Once they feel confident that it is an excellent buy. most self-made millionaires do not buy new cars." He recommends that you save at least 10% of your income. Million Dollar Habits – Page 96 . they have the car thoroughly checked out by a reputable mechanic. many cars have lost 30% . When you buy a good quality used car.English saying goes. and often they are still covered by factory warranties. Clement Stone once wrote. They are still in excellent condition. The Richest Man In Babylon. "If you take care of your pennies. Most new cars drop 20% in value as soon as you drive them off the lot. before any other expenditure. As the multimillionaire W. the pounds will take care of themselves. in his best seller.50% of their value. in good condition.
Continue this process until you are saving 15% and then 20% of your income.inward. Money that goes into this account only flows only one way. which is quite common. if you are earning $2000 per month. increase your monthly savings rate to 2% off the top. you will find yourself living quite comfortably on 10% of your current income.Human beings are creatures of habit. If you save 10% off the top of your paycheck. and discipline yourself to live on the other 90%. off the top of each paycheck. In this case. In no time at all. Once you have become comfortable living on 99% of your income.980. living at this level becomes a habit and you stop thinking about it. your "financial independence" account. you never. ever take it out or spend it for any reason. Many people are deeply in debt and the idea of saving 10% of their income. Go down to the bank and open up a separate account. make a decision today to save $20 per month. is too difficult for them even to consider. or 67 cents per day. We very quickly adapt to almost any external condition or circumstance. I recommend a gradual process where you begin by saving 1% of your income and living on the other 99%. Once you put money into this savings/investment account. off the top. For example. It has only one purpose: to enable you to achieve financial independence as soon as possible. you will soon adjust your lifestyle downward slightly so that you are quite comfortable on the lesser amount. You can then live on the other $1. You will not Million Dollar Habits – Page 97 . Within one year.
instead put it into your financial fortress account. Take Complete Control of Your Financial Life By developing the habit of thinking more carefully about your income and savings. You will find yourself paying down your debts. and you feel positive and happy about your growing account. to make it grow faster. Meanwhile. you will have a several hundred thousand dollars. You will find yourself delaying or deferring expenditures. you will soon find yourself spending less and less on your day to day expenses. In a year. If you sell something from around the house. In ten to twenty years. the habit of saving money out of every paycheck will cause your financial fortress account to grow. you will have a few thousand dollars. When you begin to save money. get a bonus at work.even notice the difference in your standard of living because it will be so gradual. instead of spending it immediately. In a couple of years. But the difference in your financial life will be absolutely extraordinary. Activate the Law of Attraction Here is an extraordinary discovery. develop the habit of adding every additional. and not incurring new debts. these positive emotions imbue Million Dollar Habits – Page 98 . As your financial accumulation account grows. you will have a few hundred dollars. unexpected amount of money that comes to you to this account. and finally not even buying those items at all. or receive an income tax refund. as unsuccessful people do.
I had been able to buy a house with my lifetime of savings. but now I had to sell the house to get the cash. and into that account. I ran out of money. we were never again out of money. every month. we Million Dollar Habits – Page 99 . Every week. You will sell things that you had had for a long time that you thought had no value. Old friends will pay you back debts that you had forgotten a long time ago. After some arguing I gave in. opportunities opened up and exciting possibilities seemed to be attracted into our lives. your account will develop even more positive energy. we were never broke again. And as you add these amounts to your account. No matter how many financial problems we had in the months ahead. You will have opportunities to earn additional amounts of money that had not occurred to you. At this point. Within a couple of years.that money with a form of energy that begins to attract more money into your life. Even though it was the midst of a recession and businesses were going bankrupt all around us. business came in. From that day forward. my wife Barbara demanded that I turn over to her $10. Then. the bills were paid. but I was always broke and there was never anything I could do about it.000 from the proceeds from the sale of the house. and then move to a rented house. She took the money and deposited it in another bank account to which I did not have access. about two years after I got married and started my own business. The most remarkable thing happened. This was her security blanket. and attract even larger amounts of money. she refused to even consider the possibility of spending that money. I had heard about this concept for many years.
with loss of pleasure. we are encouraged to save money from our allowances. As adults. However. toys and enjoyable things we desire. with sacrifice. this negative habit is manifested in our desire to spend money as soon as we make it. When we are growing up. Many people in their late teens and twenties look upon every paycheck as an opportunity to go out and spend as much money as they can. there is a special habit that financially successful people learn or develop over time. we were able to buy a home that cost five times as much on a beautiful golf course. toys and other things that make us happy. we look upon money as a tool with which to buy candy. At an early age. we described habits as "conditioned responses to stimuli.were able to move out of the rented house and buy a beautiful new home in a lovely neighborhood. Million Dollar Habits – Page 100 . Learn to Love Saving Your Money In Chapter One. Two years later. we naturally begin to look upon saving as a punishment. most people begin to associate savings with pain. satisfaction and happiness. on paydays. This is why it is generally known in the restaurant business that they will be the fullest at the middle and at the end of the month. as children. As a result. something that hurts us and deprives us of the candy." With regard to this. overlooking two lakes with the ocean in the distance. It is the habit of responding to incoming money in a particular way.
It is to detach the wires from one set of attitudes and reattach them with a different set of attitudes." The more you think about the pleasure and enjoyment that you get from seeing your financial fortress account growing. instead of worrying about the amount of money you have relative to your bills and payments. In no time at all. most people develop the habit of associating spending with enjoyment and saving with unhappiness. "Whichever emotion you dwell upon will grow. and from dissatisfaction toward satisfaction. The Law of Emotion says that. just as a fire would if you put more fuel upon it. and pain whenever you think of spending and getting rid of your money. and grow that account. Since the basic human motivation is to move away from pain toward pleasure. you will instead be reviewing the amount of money that is accumulating in your bank account. Million Dollar Habits – Page 101 . Most people who become financially successful develop the habit of thinking in terms of the pleasure and satisfaction they get from saving. investing and growing their money. the more motivated you will be to spend less. from discomfort toward comfort. Your job is to begin thinking in terms of pleasure whenever you think of saving and accumulation.People very early begin to associate spending with happiness and saving with pain. save more. Most financial failures on the other hand get most of their pleasure out of thinking of ways they can spend their money as quickly as they acquire it. at the end of each month. Rewire Your Thinking Your job is to reverse the wiring on this habit.
wear average priced clothes and watches and are very careful with their money. Rule number one: Don't lose money. recreational vehicles. personal airplanes or invest in expensive vacations. The average self-made millionaire. refer back to rule number one. In addition. studying and planning his finances. The average adult spends 2-3 hours each month studying and thinking about their money. rather than those who spend a lot of money but who have very little in the bank. explain that most self-made millionaires drive used cars. and those who are rich." To assure this.Look Rich or Be Rich Thomas Stanley and William Danko. Since the very act of focusing on your money will dramatically improve the decisions you make with regard to it. people who invest more time planning their finances invariably make better decisions and get better results. Rule number two: If ever you feel tempted. by contrast. usually at bill paying time. in The Millionaire Next Door. Million Dollar Habits – Page 102 . spends 20-30 hours per month thinking. second homes. very few of them buy boats. Truly wealthy people develop the habit of "getting rich slow" rather than "getting rich quick. Stanley and Danko point out that there are "Those who look rich. live in average neighborhoods." Your job is to be one of those people who are genuinely rich. they have two rules with regard to money. "don't lose money." People who become wealthy spend much more time thinking about their finances than people who remain poor.
They all agree that if they could double or triple their current incomes." It is what I call "Wedge Theory. Sometimes I ask my audiences this question." It is guaranteed to make you financially independent faster than you can even imagine. And it hasn't done a bit of good. Over time. that would solve all their financial problems. They still have financial problems Million Dollar Habits – Page 103 . your expenditures increase gradually as well to match your income.Practice Wedge Theory to Become Rich Here is an excellent technique that you can use that I teach in my "Financial Success Seminars. virtually everyone in the audience raises their hands. people raise their hands. "If I could wave a magic wand and double or triple your income. and a little bit more besides. you develop the habit of always spending whatever you earn or receive. Everyone has already doubled and tripled their incomes from their first jobs. Then I ask a follow-up question. because your income increases gradually. Many have increased their incomes five and ten times from the first job they took when they left school. Almost immediately." This means that. "Expenses rise to meet income. "Going back to what you earned in your first job. No matter how much money you make. would that solve your financial problems?" Then I wait and watch their faces. is there anyone here who has already doubled or tripled their income?" After a short pause. Parkinson's Law says that. smile and nod. your expenses eventually arise to consume it all.
starting today.because they have become subject to Parkinson's Law. you must develop the habit. you resolve to save 50% of every increase you receive from your work from this day forward. To become wealthy. In wedge theory. To save out of your current income will mean reducing your standard of living. Instead of cutting back on your current lifestyle. eating cheaper foods. You can still spend the other 50% on whatever Million Dollar Habits – Page 104 . or not going out as often. the actual reduction in living standards that it requires is so unacceptable that they are not able to discipline themselves to take the first step. even if they can mentally agree that saving is a good idea. It is much easier for people to commit to saving money that they have not yet received than it is to get people to agree to save money by cutting back on their current standard of living. "Expenses rise to meet income. Since human beings are creatures of habit. you will be able to increase your income by 5%." Save Half of Your Future Increases Here is how "Wedge Theory" works. driving a smaller car. 10% and even 25% per year. By practicing some of the other techniques and methods taught later on in this book. It may mean moving to a smaller place. This is something you can do because you don't yet have the money built into your daily way of life. they will almost always agree that it is a good idea. When you ask a person to save a certain amount out of their current income. but they will also claim that it is not possible. of saving fully 50% of these future increases. it is different.
Your ability to choose excellent financial advisors can be the critical factor in making good investment decisions. you will soon acquire an enormous amount of money. "Spend as much time investigating the investment as you spend earning the money that you are thinking of investing. but you must agree to save half of the money that you don't even have yet. you will pay off all your debts.you like. by saving 50% of your increases in the years ahead. and the rate at which your income grows. And the more money you acquire. the more money you will attract to yourself. millionaires develop a series of other habits to assure that they don't lose money." Million Dollar Habits – Page 105 . One of the best habits you can develop is the habit of getting good financial advice before you do anything with your growing account. Develop the habit of investigating before you invest in anything. Depending upon your age. Develop the Habits of Wealthy People With regard to your growing bank account. and that their money grows steadily over time. The rule is. Ask around and find a financial advisor who is already financially successful by investing his or her personal money in the areas that he or she recommends to you. This should not be hard for you. By disciplining yourself and developing the habit of saving half of your increase for the rest of your career. build an enormous financial fortress and eventually become financially independent.
Fast financial decisions are usually poor financial decisions. Develop the habit of taking your time, of moving slowly, of finding out every detail of the business or investment before you ever think of writing a check. Never allow anyone to pressure you into an investment decision. Never allow yourself to feel that a financial investment decision is urgent and must be made immediately. A wealthy man I worked for once told me, "Investments are like buses; there will always be another one coming along."
Sometimes, the best investments are the ones you never make at all. Make a habit of thoroughly understanding the investment before you ever think of parting with your hard earned money. If there is anything that you do not understand, or which seems too complicated for you, do not put your money in that area at all.
Warren Buffet, one of the richest men in the world as the result of his investing acumen, refused to invest in any of the high-tech or dot com companies during the boom of the 1990's. Everyone accused him of being out of step and old fashioned. He simply replied that, "I don't understand these businesses and therefore, I will not put any of my money into them." He turned out to be right, and all the others turned out to be wrong.
Never Trust to Luck
An important habit for financial success is the habit of insuring properly against any risk that you cannot write a check to cover. It is amazing how many people have spent years accumulating money and then lost it all because they did not have proper insurance policies in place. Develop the habit of using what I call "worst
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possible option" (WPO) thinking. Always ask yourself, "What is the worst possible thing that could happen in this situation?"
Whatever it is, make provisions to ensure or guard against it. Never trust to luck.
Hope is not a strategy. Wishing is not a strategy. Only careful planning, organizing and insuring constitute a strategy for your financial life.
Be sure that you have sufficient life insurance to cover your family and all their financial needs if something should happen to you. Be sure that you have adequate fire and damage insurance for your home. Check and upgrade your policies on a regular basis to make sure that they cover "replacement value." Insure your automobiles for damage and liability. Be sure to have adequate health insurance that covers you for any emergency, and for long-term care.
No one likes to spend money on insurance, but it is one of the smartest things that you can possibly do on your road to financial independence. By insuring properly, you will never be caught off guard by an unexpected accident or emergency. An additional benefit of being fully insured is that it gives you a feeling of calm confidence that allows you to think more clearly and be much more effective in everything else you do.
Cover Your Assets
As you begin to accumulate money, develop the habit of protecting your estate from unnecessary taxes and frivolous lawsuits. Invest in the services of a lawyer
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who specializes in wills and estate planning. Set up a family limited partnership, under the direction of a good lawyer, and transfer your assets into the partnership so that they cannot be seized in a lawsuit, or taxed away if something were to happen to you. As the old saying goes, "A stitch in time saves nine." Small actions that you take in planning, investigating and insuring your assets can save you an enormous amount of money on your road to financial independence.
Do Your Homework
In addition to the habits discussed above, another important habit that wealthy people develop is the habit of carefully considering every expenditure before they make it. This involves getting as much information as possible on the various prices and costs involved in any financial decision. The power is always on the side of the person with the best information.
Develop the habit of negotiating more effectively to get higher prices when you sell and lower prices when you buy. A good negotiator can save or gain 10%, 20% and more on every financial transaction. Each dollar saved or gained is additional money that you can put away to accumulate and grow in your financial fortress account.
Develop the habit of asking for higher prices when you are selling and asking for lower prices when you buy. Ask for lower interest rates. Ask for better terms and conditions. Ask for immediate payment when you sell and ask for deferred payment when you buy. Ask repeatedly. Ask pleasantly. Ask courteously. Ask
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expectantly. Ask confidently. But don't be afraid to ask. Ask for what you want, and if you don't get it, ask for something else.
Get Rich Slowly
When people make a lot of money quickly, as the result of success in the stock market, a business breakthrough, a show business success or an invention, the story gets into the newspapers and magazines. But this is precisely because great financial success in a short time is so unusual.
Most great fortunes are built slowly. They are based on the principle of compound interest, what Albert Einstein called, "The greatest power in the universe." In fully 99% of cases where people become wealthy, it is over a long period of time, and it is based on slow, incremental growth as the result of compound interest.
Every dollar that you save, properly invested and protected, has the ability to grow 5% - 10% each year. As your money grows, it compounds on itself, and grows even more. According to Stanley and Danko, it takes the average millionaire 22 years to accumulate a million dollars from the time he gets serious about his financial life. They get rich slowly, by gradually increasing their earning ability, saving more and more from their income, and investing it carefully and intelligently so that it grows and compounds over the years. You must do the same.
The Pursuit of Happiness
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The philosopher Aristotle concluded, in his Nicomachaen Ethics, "The ultimate end or purpose of all human life is the achievement of personal happiness."
Becoming financially independent as the result of developing Million Dollar Habits is a great goal in itself, but it is not the most important thing. It is the person that you have to become, in terms of courage, character, thoughtfulness, and persistence that is most important. As the result of becoming financially successful over a long period of time, you will feel truly happy and satisfied with yourself, and with every other part of your life.
This is the most worthwhile goal of all.
Action Exercises:
1. Make a decision today that you are going to accumulate more than a million dollars in the years ahead. Write it down as a goal, make a plan, and then do something toward achieving it every single day. 2. Conduct a complete financial analysis on your life; determine your net worth, your income and expenses, and your future possibilities. 3. Open a special financial fortress account and begin putting money into it at every opportunity; never spend this money on anything except investing and growth. 4. Get your financial life organized, with proper estate planning and insurance, with a family limited partnership to protect your assets. 5. Begin saving a fixed percentage of your income each month; practice the wedge theory and save 50% of every increase from this day forward.
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6. Investigate before you invest; learn every detail of the business, and be sure you thoroughly understand how your money is to be used and how it will be returned. 7. Practice frugality in all expenditures; never buy new if you can buy used, never pay full price if you can negotiate something better, delay all major expenditures until you have had ample time to think about them.
"Go out and buy yourself a five-cent pencil and a ten-cent notebook and begin to write down some million dollar ideas for yourself." (Bob Grinde)
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Only about 1% of the population has the temperament and combination of abilities necessary for successful entrepreneurship. make an excellent contribution and get paid extremely well. on average. entrepreneurs and managers are usually excellent as employees on their way up. 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. This should be your goal as well." (John Paul Getty) Confucius once wrote. valuable contribution to their companies and organizations. They learn or develop the habits that enable them to make a significant. and as a result. Since you will probably spend 95% of your life working for someone else. But fully 99% of the population has the ability to work well in a specific job or occupation. But many self-made millionaires are salespeople and executives of successful businesses who do an excellent job.Chapter Six The Habits That Get You Paid More and Promoted Faster "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. they get paid more and promoted faster than the people around them. it is absolutely essential Million Dollar Habits – Page 112 . both in the form of cash and stock. "He who would rule must learn to obey." The most successful executives. Most self-made millionaires are entrepreneurs who start and build their own successful businesses.
You must therefore develop the habit of thinking about the work that you would most love to do. as much of the time as they possibly can.000 different jobs and job categories in the United States alone. and then indispensable. examining yourself objectively.that you learn how to make yourself valuable. There are an unlimited number of things that you can do to earn a good living and to achieve financial independence. exactly as if you could design it personally in every respect. you have multiple abilities as well. you should be continually thinking about your ideal job. Each person is born with the ability to do one or more things in an exceptional fashion. Just as you have multiple intelligences. This Million Dollar Habits – Page 113 . the founder of Logotherapy. This is the key to your success at work. The first of these jobs are hard to learn and hard to do. You should continually be standing back. and then practicing the habit of focusing on your special talents and abilities. wrote that there are four types of jobs that you can do. Your Choices Are Unlimited There are more than 100. The highest paid and most successful people in our society do what they love to do. Victor Frankl. Instead of accepting whatever job or position comes along. You will only really be happy and successful when you find the kind of work that taps into the unique talents you have today. The Ideal Job For You Dr. or which you can develop tomorrow.
The third type of job you might find yourself in is a job that easy to learn but hard to do. and no matter how many years you did it. it would be hard to do.type of work would include a task like accounting or bookkeeping for a person who has no natural skill in that area. and to be paid the very most. get the best results. This may be a skill like typing with a keyboard or flying an airplane. Million Dollar Habits – Page 114 . the jobs and tasks that are easy to learn and easy to do are the best indicators of your natural talents and abilities. It takes tremendous dedication and concentration to learn. but it is always hard to do. Unfortunately. that you almost forget when and how you learned it in the first place. Don't let this happen to you. It seldom causes you to stretch your capabilities and grow your talents. this type of job can become boring and unchallenging over time. As you can imagine. This is where you are the most likely to do the best job. are those things that you find easy to learn and easy to do. Many people find themselves in jobs or careers where they are mismatched in terms of their natural abilities and what the job requires. The second type of job that Frankl identified was a job that was hard to learn but easy to do. no matter how long you do it. like digging a ditch. It's easy to learn to do a physically difficult job. hour after hour. Think about chopping wood! The fourth job category. You learned it so easily. it is quite easy to do. It would be hard to learn. and do it so naturally. Physical labor falls into this category. and the most important. but once you have mastered it. Their work is always hard and seldom satisfying.
This way of thinking is essential in your choices of a job. Your job is then to organize your workday and your work life so that you spend more and more time doing more of the things that you do best and get the best results from. the better decisions you will make and the more you will accomplish. and then take your time in choosing the right job or business for you at your current level of Million Dollar Habits – Page 115 . or when you change jobs in the course of your career. and from which you get the best results and rewards. you must be continually analyzing your activities to identify the things that you learn and do easily. stop for a moment and draw a line under the past. with all the knowledge and skill that you have accumulated to this date. an industry and a career. The more time that you spend thinking about who you are. in terms of your natural talents and abilities. and which make the greatest contribution to your work or to your company. Before you take your first job. Look around you at all the opportunities that are open to you.Throughout your life and career. Focus on Contribution Even if you are running your own business. what you most want from your work. your most important responsibility to yourself is to identify the few things that you do the most easily. Imagine that you are starting over. The fact is that the quality of your thinking determines the quality of your life. This type of work for you is the key to career success. a boss. that you enjoy. This is the key to entrepreneurial success. as we teach in our Entrepreneurial Coaching Programs.
Million Dollar Habits – Page 116 . They are all you've got. and only an unsatisfactory present. You must be honest with yourself.knowledge. and what sort of companies they work for. including moving geographically from one part of the country to another if necessary. Sometimes they are doing a job where the pay is largely fixed. I ask them what sort of jobs they do. In these cases. Seek Opportunity Versus Security People are always asking me how they can make more money in their current jobs. Invest your time and your life carefully. you must be prepared to make important changes. You must be prepared to leave a job or industry if the prospects for that industry are declining. and in which there are few opportunities for advancement or higher income. skill and development. and they are irreplaceable. What are the businesses and industries that are growing in sales and popularity? What are the products and services that are selling well? What are the companies with increasing profits and rising stock prices? What are the states or regions of the country that have the most companies and industries that seem to be prospering? If you sincerely want to become a millionaire over the course of your lifetime. Look around you in the current job market. or they are working for a company that is not growing. I have to tell them that they are in a situation that has a limited future. They often tell me that they are working in an industry where sales are flat or declining.
Many people have totally changed their lives. Just like investing in a company that was not successful. put their careers onto the fast track. months and even years in getting an education or acquiring experience in a particular field. as in a deep ocean. Practice Zero Based Thinking Regularly One of the most important habits you can develop is the habit of "zero based thinking. They are sunk. Ignore the Past and Focus on the Future There is a concept in accounting called a "sunk cost." These are defined as money that has been spent and which cannot be recouped. But the market has changed and there may be no demand for what you are capable of doing. like last year's advertising. They are funds that are gone forever in a company or business. You may have invested weeks. or admitting it to themselves. you put every one of your previous decisions on Million Dollar Habits – Page 117 . and moved rapidly toward financial independence. They cannot be retrieved. But they have a hard time facing this fact. dramatically increased their incomes. many people have invested an enormous amount of time and money in the development of talents and skills for which there is no existing or future market. They have no value. No one is willing to hire you or pay you very much to do it. by making major changes in where they were working or what they were doing. You have sunk costs in your career as well. or others." In zero based thinking.
based on new information. it can even make you physically ill. They will cause you the most aggravation and frustration. If the answer to this question. "How long are you going to stay in a situation that you know is not right for you?" It is not possible for you to be Million Dollar Habits – Page 118 . if I had to do it over?" Apply this question to every part of your life. "Is there anything that I am doing today that. you wouldn't get into again today if you had the choice. career and current situation. You are not perfect. knowing what I now know. and how fast?" Often you can change your entire life by simply having the courage to face up to the fact that your previous decision has not turned out to be as good as you originally thought. would you get into it again today. knowing what you now know about this area? Asking and answering this question takes a good deal of courage. There is nothing wrong with this. "Is there anything that I'm doing that I wouldn't get into again today?" is "yes". I wouldn't get into again today. If you were not now doing what you are currently doing. You ask this question. "How do I get out of this situation. This will happen throughout your life. and especially apply it to your job.trial for its life on a regular basis. you will always have situations that. with your current knowledge. These situations will almost always be the primary causes of stress or dissatisfaction in your life. Everyone makes decisions that they later regret. then your next question should be. The only question is. position. The fact is that in a world of rapid change. If you stay in a zero based situation long enough.
which particular company you would like to work for. you merely seek information about what is going on in that company and industry. "I am doing some research on this business (or industry) and I would very much like to get a few minutes of your time to ask you how you see your business evolving and developing in the future. you will have assembled an excellent information base that will enable you to determine first of all. and second of all." Instead of applying for a job in a particular company. You can even position or imagine yourself as a "reporter" in the process of gathering information to write a story. the next step is for you to begin the process of "informational interviewing.successful and happy in your career or job if. whether you want to work in that industry. knowing what you now know. you wouldn't even get into it again today if you had it to do over. After you have spoken to people in several companies. Getting The Ideal Job For You Once you have decided what it is that you most enjoy doing. You begin your search by calling up a decision maker in a company in an industry in which you would like to work and saying something like this. and you have decided the part of the country and type of business you would like to work in. and which you have the potential to do extremely well. Million Dollar Habits – Page 119 ." You will be amazed at how open people are to talking to you about the company or business they work in.
Money can be replaced. and your time is more important than the money that you will receive. You are going to be exchanging a certain amount of your life for that job. they begin to see themselves as Million Dollar Habits – Page 120 . Instead of seeing themselves as responsible and in charge of their own careers. new in town. and having no experience in the business. Instead of being self-reliant and selfdetermined. choose your boss with care. positive and constructive. and working for whichever boss they happen to get. and accepted the one with the best reputation and the toughest hiring standards. some people fall into the habit of taking whatever job is offered to them when they need a job. I conducted this process with the top four companies in the industry. but time spent is gone forever. I received job offers from all four companies. Choose your job with care. They take whatever work assignments are given to them and accept whatever hours or working conditions are offered. they become reactive and accepting. On the other hand. This method really works! Remember. Take the Time To Choose Well In taking a new job. Within one month.Many years ago. Almost every successful person can tell you of a boss that he had at a certain point in his career that became a key factor in his subsequent success. One of the fastest ways to move ahead rapidly in your career is to work for an excellent boss. An excellent boss is invariably someone who is competent and capable. and under whom you can learn and grow at a rapid rate. your time is your life.
working harder and staying later. and they are for average employee. you should continue working until 5:30 or 6:00. or as an entrepreneur and business owner.passive agents. or even later. Two Habits For Rapid Advancement Over the years. If the workday ends at 5 o'clock. They have nothing to do with you. you should be at work and busy by 8 o'clock. These habits will serve you well as an employee. will increase your productivity by anything from 50% to 100%. If the workday starts at 8:30 am. I have been invited to speak to graduating classes of business students. as a manager or executive. easy to learn and incredibly powerful. working harder and staying later. The simple act of starting earlier. They are simple. Million Dollar Habits – Page 121 . The people who are in the best position to help you get ahead will soon notice these work habits. This is definitely not for you. I will tell you what I tell them. Instead. remember that the normal hours of work are simply averages. merely doing what they are told to do. They will give you an edge over any of your coworkers. You should work steadily all day long. They invariably ask me for advice on how to get ahead in the world of work. There are two habits that you can develop that will help you get ahead faster than any success secrets you will ever learn. you should develop the habit of starting earlier. To begin with.
Develop the habit of asking for and accepting more responsibility. My desire for more responsibility was perfectly selfish." Fast-Tracking My Career Many years ago. and told him that I was caught up with my work. you simply want "more responsibility. and that I wanted more responsibility. I was given a variety of small tasks to work on which changed from week to week. and I was bored." Million Dollar Habits – Page 122 . After a couple of weeks of this. I was the low man on the totem pole. I wanted to be busier and more active. I went to my boss. the Chairman of the company. You are not asking for more money or for special recognition. and you want to make an even more valuable contribution to the company. "By the way. a chair and no pictures on the wall. when I met with my boss. As soon as you feel that you are on top of your work. feeling a little frustrated. The fact is that I like to work. Therefore. I would really like more work to do. But nothing happened. I would end the conversation by saying. I went to work for a large company that had about 200 employees. more responsibility. I was stuck in a tiny office in the back with a desk. I remember that my boss nodded and smiled and told me that he would think about it." Tell him that you very much like your job. every couple of days. go to your boss and tell him that you want "more responsibility.
I began working on them and completing them as well. As soon as I received the additional responsibility that I had been asking for. but he thanked me for getting it done so quickly. Soon he gave me another job.Finally. he mentioned that he hadn't needed it done immediately. took it back to my office and began work on it. in passing. and over the weekend to get this job finished in an excellent fashion and get it back to him. whatever he gave me to do. I got it done fast. and without asking. I took the job and immediately went to work on it. completing it quickly and getting it back to him long before he needed it. so they were done Million Dollar Habits – Page 123 . I used this as an opportunity to immediately ask for more responsibility. In addition. I worked late into the night. and then another. He had given me the additional responsibility on a Friday afternoon. Later on. In every case. I grabbed it like a fumble in a football game and ran for yards. Keep Asking For More Later that week. I developed the habit of doing the job quickly and well. my boss asked me if I would take care of something for him that was outside of my basic job description. I thanked him very much. By Monday morning I had it complete and got it typed up so that it was on his desk when he arrived that day. about two weeks after I began this campaign. I began observing some of the tasks that took up his time. he complimented me once more on how well and how quickly the job had been done. and then another. This did not go unnoticed. And here's a habit that I developed that changed my life.
This did not go unnoticed either. but I immediately agreed. Some time later. I answered correspondence. the one who got things done faster and better than anyone else. He asked me if I was interested in taking charge of it. I had moved into the second largest office in the building and had a staff of 23 people. dealt with client service problems. By developing the reputation as being the "go-to guy" in the company. My income doubled and tripled. I was hired away by the president of another major corporation at triple what I was earning in my current job. Your Chance Will Come Then one day. And I earned every penny of it by asking for more Million Dollar Habits – Page 124 . I later learned that my boss had ended up paying me more in salaries and bonuses than he had ever paid an employee in the course of his 25-year career. visited customers and gathered information to save him time. a major project came up. I was operating businesses that were generating many millions of dollars worth of sales and profitability. my star rose and rose and rose. and then another. It was in an area in which I had never worked before. By the end of one year. I had three divisions of the company working under me. and then still another. I then threw my whole heart into doing the job quickly and well. After that. I was given another project. I received bonuses and special incentives that enabled my to buy a new house and a Mercedes.when he got in.
In every study of successful people in business. these qualities cause you to stand out favorably from everyone else around you.responsibility. results are everything. in every area. the qualities of taking responsibility and getting the job done fast will do more to help you to get paid more and promoted faster than any other two habits you can develop. he writes that the most valuable people he has ever met in business are those rare few who have developed the habit of fulfilling their responsibilities and getting the job done that were hired to do. Million Dollar Habits – Page 125 . this single characteristic seems to stand out. All successful people. which will help you in any job. in every field. Don't Waste Time One of the most important habits you can develop. in any job. Take Initiative and Get The Job Done Fast Remember I talked about the importance of the qualities of action-orientation. and then getting the job done quickly and well. In every job. based on his many years of running Fortune 500 corporations. In business. In Larry Bossidy's best selling book Execution. You can do the same. and taking initiative. Whether you work for someone else or you run your own business. in any organization. are those who take responsibility and move quickly to fulfill those responsibilities and get the results required of them. is the habit of working all the time you work.
coming in late. you have to get "back to work!" Keep repeating to yourself the mantra. It is dribbled away with private phone calls. and leaving early. you say that you would like to chat with him or her. personal business and surfing the Internet. and when you get in. if you have the time. when the average employee is actually working. Right now. but not right now. the average employee works only 50% of the time. What is even worse is that. And then get back to work. and take full control of your career and your future. you will immediately separate yourself from everyone else. It is spent in idle chitchat and conversation with coworkers. Start a little earlier. Only 50% of the time for which the average person is paid is actually spent on work-related activities. The other 50% of working time is largely wasted. taking extended coffee breaks and lunches. Most people "major in minors" and work on low priority activities. Resolve to work all the time you work. If someone wants to talk to you. go to work immediately. "Back to work! Back to work! Back to work!" Tell your coworkers that you can socialize with them after work. When you discipline yourself to focus on high priority tasks and to make every minute count.According to Robert Half International. reading the newspaper. he or she does the tasks that are fun and easy rather than the jobs that are hard and important. Be A Hard Worker Million Dollar Habits – Page 126 .
hard work. all the way down to who works the least hard. the most obvious habit they have is that they work much longer and harder than their coworkers. Imagine that your goal is to come out on the top of this survey. The most impoverished Million Dollar Habits – Page 127 . the ones at the poverty line. Again and again. and worldwide. Your job is to be sure that you win this vote. they are going to ask everyone in the company to rank everyone else in the company in terms of who works the hardest. In this survey. work fewer than 25 hours per week. These studies try to explain income distribution and are often used as the basis for welfare payments. Join the Elite There have been many studies about wealth and poverty in the United States. entrepreneurs or self-made millionaires in any field. Every single day that you are at work. hard hours.Imagine that a management-consulting firm is going to come into your company and do a survey one year from today. these studies show that the highest paid people in America work about 60 hours a week. whether they are athletes. In every study of successful people. executives. unemployment compensation and levels of taxation. The highest paid households in America have two or more people who work long. a vote is going to be taken on the hardest working person in the company. There is nothing that will bring you to the attention of people who can help you faster than developing a habit for hard. The lowest paid people in America. At the end of the month or the year. imagine that you are being watched with hidden cameras.
was interviewed in Fortune Magazine some time ago. "In my estimation. you must be looking for ways to add value every single day." At one time. and then coast for months and even years on your previous achievements. Each person has to see himself or herself as completely responsible for everything that happens to them. There is a direct relationship between how hard you work and how rapidly you are promoted. There is a direct relationship between how hard you work and how much you are paid. Today however. He was asked what he felt to be the biggest changes that had taken place in the world of work in the last decade. Your company no longer cares what you might have Million Dollar Habits – Page 128 . especially for their own work habits.households in America are those that have perhaps one wage earner who works only a few hours per week. There is a direct relationship between how hard you work and the value of the contribution that you make to your company. every person today is now the architect of his or her own career. No one could rely on a company taking care of them throughout their careers. He said that today. reach a certain level of accomplishment." His second observation was even more important. the Chairman of Intel. People who work longer hours are invariably more valuable. and their own training and development. the two most important changes were these: First of all. the key to success in any job today is to "add value. you could get a job. He answered that. paid more and promoted faster than people who do not. The Key To Career Success Andrew Grove.
two of the top strategic planners in the world today. you will have to be doing it vastly better one year from today if you want to keep your current position. one of the most important habits you develop is the habit of looking forward 3-5 years and identifying the additional skills and competencies you will need to be to the top of your field at that time. in their book Competing for the Future. By the same token. "What have you done for me lately?" Gary Hamel and C. write that the key to competitive advantage for companies is to project forward five years and identify the core competencies and skills that they will be need to be market leaders at that time. Million Dollar Habits – Page 129 ." The race is on. "Whatever you are doing well today.K. and what will you have to be absolutely excellent at doing 3-5 years from now if you want to earn an excellent income? These are the key questions that determine the direction of your career. Everything else will become obsolete over time. The main question today is. and you are in it. What are the trends in your industry? What are the skills possessed by the highest paid people in your industry today? Where is your industry going.accomplished in the past." We say that. "Whatever got you to where you are today is not enough to keep you there. Prahaled. The Race is On Peter Drucker writes that. "The only skill that will be important in the 21st century is the skill of learning new skills." Tom Peters says that.
Never forget that you are a "knowledge worker" and the value of your work is not determined by the hours that you put in. but by the results that you get out. Look Like A Winner One of the most important Million Dollar Habit you can develop. You must develop the habit of dressing like a person who is going somewhere in life. to contribute more than you are contributing today. Something quite abrupt or shocking has to occur for us to alter our first impression. which can have an inordinate effect on how fast you move onward and upward. and we finalize our conclusions about that person in the first 30 seconds. This is the way to put yourself on the side of the angels. Some surveys suggest that we form our first impression in the first four seconds of meeting a person. has to do with your personal appearance and image. our mind then strives to justify the decision we have already made. Million Dollar Habits – Page 130 . After we have made a judgment and come to a conclusion about a person. and to put your career onto the fast track. Human beings are intensely visual. Make a habit of focusing on the most important and valuable results that you can accomplish in your position. We are inordinately influenced by the external appearance of other people. Keep looking forward and identifying the additional skills and abilities that you can develop that will enable you to add more value by getting even better and more important results.Continually look for ways to add value. This is the way our minds work.
as well. One of the rules for success is that. And we are very much influenced by the external appearance of a person. usually within 30 seconds. your make-up and your accessories so that you look like the kind of person who is competent. Human beings tend to be incredibly perceptive. everything counts." This is a nice idea. Their clothes and accessories are ill fitting do not go Million Dollar Habits – Page 131 . In the image that you project. Their hair is too long or poorly cared for.Sometimes people say that. your grooming. "People should not judge me by the way I look on the outside. Everything adds up or takes away. What Every Company Wants Business owners and executives want to be proud of their staff. you open doors for yourself that might otherwise remain closed to you. because of their external appearance. One of the smartest things that you can do is purchase a couple of books on personal image and then select your clothes. Everything is either moving you toward a goal of your own choosing or is moving you away from that goal. year after year. They are often overweight and unkempt. Everything counts! This rule is as applicable in the way you look as in any other area. Many people work hard and do a good job. efficient and trustworthy. but are passed over for promotion. If it doesn't help it hurts. but the fact is that you judge everyone you meet by the way they look on the outside. By taking the time and effort to dress well and to look the part of a capable person. "Everything counts!" Everything helps or hurts.
by looking at your work space. "What kind of a person is this?" How would people who don't know you describe you by looking at a photograph of you the way that you normally appear at work? Would they say that. Both of these concepts are applicable to you personally. I will explain the importance of positioning and branding in selling a product or service. and in your work life as well.with their other clothes. Imagine taking a picture of yourself as you show up for work in the course of the week. In chapters Seven and Eight. that you were a "highly efficient. Here's an exercise for you. we will talk about building a business and about sales and marketing. high performing individual?" Or would they say something else? Look at your workspace or desk. "This is an excellent. productive and well organized person?" Or would they say something else? An Outside Evaluation Million Dollar Habits – Page 132 . "What kind of a person works in an environment or situation like that?" Would an objective third party observer say that. your briefcase or car. immediately discount their value and ignore their opinions. well organized. In those chapters. Their shoes are unpolished or mismatched to their clothes or position. the people around them. especially their superiors. As a result. Ask. Imagine circulating that picture to others and asking the question.
these are the words that people use when they think and talk about you? What steps could you take immediately to begin creating these works in people's minds? Be A Good Team Player One of the most important habits you can develop in the course of your career is the habit of working well with other people. how could you develop the habits of walking. talking. efficient. honest. "He/she is extremely competent. how do people talk about you to others when you are not there? How would you like them to talk about you? What words would you like them to use? What words would it be helpful to your career if everybody used them when they described you to others? Finally. dressing. sometime in the future. helpful and gets things done quickly and well?" How could you change or restructure your appearance and work habits so that. Imagine that an outside firm of consultants was to interview all of your coworkers and ask them this question: "What words would you use to describe that person?" What words do people use to describe you in your absence? Based on their experience with you. working and behaving in such a way that others describe you in the most positive and flattering way.Here's another exercise. with your character and your work habits. will do as much to Million Dollar Habits – Page 133 . Would it be helpful to you if people were to say that. friendly. and a good team leader later in your career. Your ability to be a good team player early in your career.
These are the people who buy and use the product or service that your company produces. no matter what you do in your organization. or in the outside world. and anyone who depends upon you for their success at work. In times of economic turbulence and large-scale lay-offs." Focus On Customer Service Develop the habit of seeing everyone around you as a customer of some kind. and simultaneously see yourself as a customer service specialist. there are your external customers. "How many people here work in customer service?" Very few hands go up. researchers have found that the last people to be let go from any organization are the most popular and helpful people. are always the ones who are liked the most and who get along with the greatest number of people. First. Satisfying these people is absolutely indispensable to your success. Those people who are the most vital to serving customers of the company are always the most valuable and appreciated. A customer can be defined as "Anyone who you depend upon for your success at work. you have several different customers. Everyone is in the business of serving customers. irrespective of economic conditions. The people who are kept on the longest. Million Dollar Habits – Page 134 . Your job is to be one of those people. I then go on to point out that. Sometimes I ask my audience members. "Everyone is in the business of customer service.increase your value to your company as any other habit or skill that you can develop." By this definition.
You depend upon each of these people for your success. he or she will be both flattered and somewhat amused. Here is an exercise. But if you persist in working through this list of tasks. Your Best Customer Begin with your boss. most important output responsibility. Then have him choose your second most important task. your job will be safe. Ask him or her to choose your number one. but if you do not satisfy your boss. These are your boss. Your boss is therefore your number one customer. your job will be in jeopardy. you can please every other person inside and outside of your organization. He or she is your most important customer. The more and better you serve your internal customers. This is because you can fail to satisfy every other customer in your organization. your coworkers and your subordinates. within your organization. Take this list to your boss and ask your boss to organize this list on the basis of his or her priorities. On the other hand. The first time you approach your boss with this exercise. but as long as your boss continues to like and support you. and so on. and organization of priorities. each of them depends upon you. with Million Dollar Habits – Page 135 . and to a certain degree. the more productive and valuable you will be to your company. Very few people do this with their bosses.You also have another set of customers. Draw up a list of everything that you feel that you have been hired to do.
they will then look for ways to help you do your job even better. develop the habit of always working on your boss's number one task. Million Dollar Habits – Page 136 . From them on. Have each of them draw up a list answering the question. Make it clear that your primary aim is to work on what your boss considers to be the most important and valuable use of your time. you will both emerge from the meeting with a much better understanding of your true priorities at work. do everything possible to assure that each of your staff members is working on what you consider to be the most important thing they can be doing to make the most valuable contribution possible to your organization. From then on. perform the same exercise with them. "Why am I on the payroll?" Go over these descriptions with each of your staff members and help them to organize their lists by priority. immediately ask what order of priority does the new task have in comparison with the other work that you are doing. By the Law of Reciprocity. If your boss asks you to do a new job. because you depend upon them for certain things. You should always be looking for ways to help them do their jobs more effectively. Help Others to Be Effective If you have a staff of your own. In a book on Power and Influence in Organizations written some years ago.your boss. the author concluded that power in an organization was based on what he called. Your coworkers are also your customers.
but whose help and cooperation you required if you wanted to be successful in your position."managed dependencies. You should then make a habit of cultivating these people and looking for ways to help them to be more successful in fulfilling their responsibilities as well. This law says that. that also shall you reap. or do for others. First." In the world of work. "The more you give of yourself without expectation of return. Then. "Whatsoever you sow. but over whom you had no control. First. you sow. Sowing and Reaping In Chapter One. cooperation and support you need in order to do your job the very best possible. They were not dependent upon you for their jobs or their incomes. help. you reap. almost automatically. One of the great rules for success is this. will eventually come back to you. Make up a list of all the people within and without your organization whose assistance. people will be predisposed to helping you when the time arises. we said that the Law of Cause and Effect is the granddaddy law of western philosophy. or without sowing at all. the iron law of the cosmos." This referred to people whom you could influence." Million Dollar Habits – Page 137 . Many people try to reap before they sow. the more that will come back to you from the most unexpected sources. Then. whatever you put in. you look for ways to help other people. this means that. Note that the Law of Sowing and Reaping has a specific order. The biblical version of this law is the Law of Sowing and Reaping. These were people who were independent of you. But this is not the way the world works.
In a study done in New York some years ago. efficient and deliberate. Act as if you owned 100% of the shares of the company you work for. you change your personality and your character. and seeing yourself as the President of your own business. you take complete responsibility for yourself. Million Dollar Habits – Page 138 . they discovered that only 3% of employees see themselves as self-employed. They seek out additional training experiences to increase the quality and quantity of results that they can get in their jobs. They are action oriented in looking for ways to contribute more value to their companies. in every respect. If you always do more than you are currently being paid to do. By taking complete responsibility. They are the ones who take personal responsibility and personal initiative. to sow more than you reap. and to always do more than you are paid to do. President of Your Own Company One of the most important habits you can develop to succeed in your company is the habit of viewing yourself as self-employed.Develop the habit of looking for ways to put in more than you get out. to go the extra mile. By developing the habit of seeing yourself as self-employed. Treat the company like it belongs to you. Look for ways to add value continually. your company and your career. See yourself as the "President" of your own personal services corporation. Your attitude improves and your actions become more focused. These 3% always seem to be the ones who are paid more and promoted faster. you will be setting yourself up to be paid more in the future.
Refuse to criticize. You will be promoted to positions of higher responsibility and authority. you quickly come to the attention of the people who can help you the most. likable and pleasant who are paid the most and promoted the fastest. positive person. Always be cheerful and friendly. In our modern business world. or likes to work for or with. Make it a habit to look for the good in every person and situation. it is always the people who are competent. Be polite and courteous. Guard your tongue.When you view yourself as the president of your own company. Action Exercises: Million Dollar Habits – Page 139 . Be the kind of person that everyone likes to have working for them. You will eventually leave everyone else behind. look for something good to say about everyone. and to keep focused on helping other people. You will be more respected and esteemed by the important people around you. Imagine that everything that you say at work will be repeated and published on the company bulletin board. Be thoughtful and considerate. Be Positive and Cheerful Perhaps the most helpful decision you can make is to develop the habit of being a pleasant. These habits will help you as much or more than anything else you could possibly do. Instead. as completely self-responsible for your own job and your own results. Do not engage in gossip or gripe sessions with your coworkers. condemn or complain. and adding value to your company. Doors of opportunity will open up for you. Be patient and easy going. capable.
and what you most enjoy doing at work. find a job doing more of that. "Work is an extension of personality. It is achievement. and dedicate yourself to becoming absolutely excellent in those areas. Work all the time you work. to help others to do their jobs better and faster. Get the job done fast! The faster you move. Develop the habit of working well with others. and the faster you will be paid more and promoted to higher levels of responsibility. the more energy you have. Identify your unique talents and abilities. work harder and stay later. and then move quickly when you get an opportunity to perform. 3. when you start earlier. 2. 5. Develop the habit of continually asking for and accepting more responsibility for results. always be looking for ways to contribute. Focus on satisfying your customers at work. both inside and outside of the company. 7. 4. Determine what you find easy to learn and easy to do. 6." (Peter Drucker) Million Dollar Habits – Page 140 . you quickly separate yourself from all the others. the more you get done. It is one of the ways in which a person defines himself.1. measures his worth and his humanity.
In this chapter. By becoming knowledgeable. you dramatically increase the probability that you will earn a lot of money. Let not the man be discouraged who has these." (James Whitcomb Riley) Everything that happens in life is a matter of probabilities. unflagging effort. The entire world of insurance is based on these numbers. as well as much of the world of finance and investments. healthy and prosperous life.Chapter Seven The Habits of Top Businesspeople "Continuous. There is a probability that you will drive safely to and from work tomorrow. achieve financial independence and become a millionaire yourself in the years ahead. all business skills and behaviors are learnable through study and practice. proficient and skilled in the operations of successful business. The Purpose Of A Business Million Dollar Habits – Page 141 . There is a probability that virtually anything will happen. happy. Actuaries and statisticians can determine these probabilities with considerable accuracy. As it happens. you will learn the most important habits practiced by the most successful businesspeople in every area. persistence and determination will win. There is a probability that you will live a long. business executives or self-employed professionals. Your job is to adopt these habits and then to apply them in all your business activities. Most self-made millionaires in America are entrepreneurs.
" All profits are a result of creating and keeping a sufficient number of customers and serving them in a profitable manner." You must be absolutely clear about who you are as a person. and see everything you do from the customer's point of view. and then take the time to achieve absolute clarity in several different areas. To be sure that you are doing the right things.What is the purpose of a business? Some people say that it is to "make a profit. Businesses succeed and grow because they satisfy their customers better than their competitors." However. "The purpose of a business is to create and keep a customer. Put yourself inside their hearts and minds. "What does my customer consider value?" The Power of Clarity Perhaps the most important word in business and personal success is the word "clarity. at prices they are willing to pay. The aim of all business activities is customer satisfaction. one of the most important questions you ever ask is. Million Dollar Habits – Page 142 . and what you are trying to do or accomplish in your business or work. Develop an intense customer focus. you must develop the habit of placing your customers in the center of your thinking in all of your business activities. Businesses shrink and decline because they fail to satisfy their customers with the products and services they want. You must develop the habit of thinking carefully about every detail of your business life. noon and night. Peter Drucker says that. Morning. The most important habit you can develop for business success is the habit of thinking about your customers all the time.
Begin with your vision. Think About the Words Think about the words that you would use to describe your business if it was perfect in every respect. Just as you need an uplifting and inspiring vision for yourself and your life. what words would you choose? What words do you want the people inside and outside of your business to use to describe you and your business activities? For example. wonderful customer service. the people perish. What is your vision for your ideal business future? If you could wave a magic wand and make your business perfect in every way. best Million Dollar Habits – Page 143 . high integrity. what would it look like? In the Bible. great people. you need a vision for your business. Practice "idealization" in the creation of this vision. it says. people eventually lose their enthusiasm and commitment and simply go through the motions of operating the business day by day. Make it a habit to continually define and clarity this picture. Imagine that you have no limitations and that you can create your business any way you want. positive. quality. What would they be? What words would you want your customers to use in describing your business to other potential customers? If you could select the ideal words and put them into the mouths of your customers. if everyone around you described your business with the words "excellence. uplifting vision for the business." In business terms. this means that where there is no clear. "Where there is no vision.
achieve sales and profit growth of 15% per year.products. speedy follow-up. all have a central focus that make it much more likely that this mission will be accomplished." With a mission like this.. how could you organize your business activities to assure that these are the words that people use when they think and talk about you sometime in the future. marketing and sales. that you can use to determine whether or not your mission has been completed." It took almost one hundred years for AT&T to complete this mission. the mission of AT&T was to "bring telephone service within the reach of every American. A Mission and a Measure What is your mission for your business? A mission is always defined in terms of what you want to accomplish with your business for your customers. policies and procedures." would this be helpful to you? If so. A mission always contains a measure of some kind. strategic planning. but the mission never changed until it was achieved. For example. What is your mission for your business and your customers? Million Dollar Habits – Page 144 . and as a result. the easier it is for you to do the things that are necessary to make these words a reality. The greater clarity you have with regard to this ideal description. A company might say: "Our mission is to supply our customers with the best products. etc. backed by the best customer service in our market. for many years.
measurable. specific targets to aim at every single day. and the amounts you intend to sell in those markets. Developing the habit of clarity about your goals gives each person in your business. You need goals for how much you intend to sell and for how much you intend to earn on those sales. Set Clear Goals and Objectives Once you are clear about your vision. You need goals for the types of people that you want to attract and hire. you define them in terms of specific. time bounded business goals.Why You Do What You Do What is your purpose for your business? The definition of purpose answers the question of "why" you are in business in the first place. medium-term and long-term objectives that you need to reach for your business to be successful. Million Dollar Habits – Page 145 . What is it that you passionately want to achieve for your customers? What results do you want to get? In what ways is your business organized to improve the life of your customers in some way? Why are you doing what you are doing in the first place? The greater clarity you have with regard to your purpose. mission and purpose. You need goals for the markets you intend to enter. the better organized and the more efficient will be your entire business. and yourself. and the improvement of existing ones. Your goals are the short-term. You need goals for the development and introduction of new products and services.
Million Dollar Habits – Page 146 . "very important. most managers spend much of their time on activities that do not involve innovation and marketing. they asked business managers. to make your products and services more attractive to more customers. Everything else was taken up in paperwork. in business. meetings. Think about your customers most of the time. In one study. "How important is the marketing function to your company?" Most executives replied. Think about the things that you could do.Fortunately. Develop the habit of thinking in financial terms. all goals and objectives can be expressed in financial terms. and ultimately generate financial results. Focus on Marketing and Sales Every business is essentially a marketing organization. because these are the only two activities that create and keep customers. and thinking in terms of net profits. Surprisingly enough. Whatever you do in your business. every single day. at every stage of your business. Drucker says that the role of the manager is to innovate and market." They then analyzed the time usage of these managers and found that only 11% of the working week was actually devoted to marketing. This is the way the most successful businesspeople think most of the time. you can create or determine a specific financial number to aim at that will tell you whether or not you are successful. It is important for you to develop the habit of thinking about marketing and sales results most of the time. administration and non-marketing activities.
the customer. One of the best overall missions is this: "Our mission is to get our customers to buy from us rather than from our competitors. Your job as a business person is to convince your prospect that he or she will be better off by buying your product or service from you. and what you offer. The customer determines our level of growth or decline. Satisfying our customer must be the central focus and habitual way of thinking of every person in the organization." The Customer Is King Today in our society." Customers buy just one thing: improvement. sales and business strategy is as simple and as straightforward as that. And she can fire us any time she wants by simply deciding to shop somewhere else. it is because in the customer's perception. "We all have one boss. and then to tell and bring their friends to buy from us as well. than he or she would from buying it from anyone else. For this reason. The customer is always right. your offerings are not attractive enough to induce the buying decision. the customer is king. once said. Sam Walton. founder of Walmart. The customer decides our success or failure. you must develop the "outside in" habit of dealing with your customers. The reason that a customer buys from you is to improve his or her life or work in some way. If the customer does not buy from you. You must continually look at your products and services. Marketing. or queen. to buy again because they are highly satisfied with their initial purchase. I encourage them to establish a basic mission for their sales activities. or even worse. buys from your competitor. from the Million Dollar Habits – Page 147 .When I consult with companies on their marketing.
Think Like An Entrepreneur Million Dollar Habits – Page 148 . You must see yourself through the eyes of your customers. They want the very most for the very least. They want everything to be better. faster. And whatever satisfied them yesterday is not enough to satisfy them today. about the different ways that they can please and satisfy them even more than before. You must be continually raising the bar on yourself. To please the demanding customer of today and tomorrow. What Customers Want Customers are incredibly selfish. you must develop the habit of continually improving what you sell.outside. faster and cheaper if you want to stay ahead of your competition. so that you can make whatever changes are necessary to cause your customer to prefer buying from you rather than from someone else. day and night. or work for another business. They want the highest possible quality at the lowest possible price. You must continually be seeking ways to provide your products better. The most successful entrepreneurs develop the habit of intense market and customer orientation. Whether you start your own business. cheaper and easier to purchase and use. They focus single-mindedly on their customers and think continually. your intense focus on your customers will do more to assure your success than any other habit you can develop in business.
Develop the habit of moving fast in selling and serving customers and you will gain an edge in any market. An entrepreneur is like a guerilla fighter in the world of capitalism. Try. In addition. But the Law of Probabilities reigns supreme. and the faster you try them. "If I was not doing this in this way. Then be willing to try something else. The entrepreneur has several qualities that enable him or her to start and grow a successful business against entrenched competition. entrepreneurial thinking requires the habit of flexibility. Most entrepreneurial businesses eventually succeed by doing something different from what they first started. Keep asking. knowing what I now know. The faster you can serve your customers. but entrepreneurs have the advantage of speed. Remember that most things that you try in business will not succeed the first time. the more valuable and attractive they will consider you to be. Perhaps the two most important habits you can develop in entrepreneurial thinking are those of speed and flexibility. and of doing things quickly that satisfy your customers. or even the second or third time." be prepared to change quickly and try something else. Develop the habit of moving quickly on opportunities or problems.Develop the habit of thinking like an entrepreneur. The more different things you try. the more likely it is that you will discover the right method or process to make the sales and achieve the goals that you set for yourself. Try again. would I start it up again?" If the answer is "no. Today in our society. Large companies tend to move slowly. They succeed by offering different products and Million Dollar Habits – Page 149 . time is a critical element of decision making in buying any product or service.
"Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. develop the habit of asking and answering the following questions: What exactly is my product or service? Who exactly is my customer? Million Dollar Habits – Page 150 . far faster and easier than your competitors. To plan better. They accept feedback and make quick course corrections when they find that something is not working as they expected." Very often. One of the marks of successful businesspeople is that they remain open to new ideas. the faster and easier it will be for you to carry out your plans and get the results you desire once you start to work. Seven Habits For Business Success There are seven key habits that you must develop for business success. The better. There is a "Six P" acronym that says. more thoroughly and more detailed that you plan your activities in advance. if not fatal to your business. The absence of any one of these habits can be costly. you will be able to accomplish extraordinary results.services to different customers than they initially planned when the business began. the first 20% of the time that you spend developing complete plans will save you 80% of the time later in achieving the business goals that you have set. The first requirement for business success is the habit of planning. When you become competent and capable in each of these areas.
the next stage of planning is for you to set specific targets for sales and profitability. you must then develop the habit of organizing the people and resources you need before you begin. money. You must determine the exact people. the greater will be the probability that you will succeed once you commence operations. rather than from someone else? Once you have asked and answered these questions. you bring together all the resources that you have determined that you will require in the planning process. The more thoroughly you plan out each stage of your business activities. before you begin. In organizing. distribution. Million Dollar Habits – Page 151 . Get Organized Before You Get Started Once you have developed a complete plan for your business. administration and service people and facilities you will require in order to achieve your goals. there is a saying. In the military. marketing. advertising.Why does my customer buy? What does my customer consider value? What is it that makes my product or service superior to that of any of my competitors? Why is it that my prospective customer does not buy? Why does my prospective customer buy from my competitor? What value does he/she perceive in buying from my competitor? How can I offset that perception and get my competitor's customers to buy from me? What one thing must my customer be convinced of to buy from me.
Find The Right People The third habit you must develop is the habit of hiring the right people to help you to achieve your goals. and they are on their way out of business." It is absolutely essential that you determine every ingredient that you will need before you begin business operations. The Habit of Delegation The fourth habit you need to develop for business success is the habit of proper delegation. The second best companies have the second best people. However. As they grow and expand. if they are not careful. or begin your project. The fact is that the best companies have the best people. so they hire someone to do a part of it. in the right way. they usually do everything themselves. and bring them together so that they are ready to go when you open your doors. to the right person. You must develop the ability to delegate the right task."amateurs talk strategy. they try to retain control of the Million Dollar Habits – Page 152 . and even bring about failure of the business. When people start in business. or to work on your team. but professionals talk logistics. The failure to provide even one important ingredient in advance can lead to the failure of the entire enterprise. The inability to delegate effectively can be the cause of failure or underperformance of the individual. The third best companies have the average or mediocre people. the job becomes too large for one person. Fully 95% of your success as an entrepreneur or executive will be determined by the quality of the people that you recruit to work with you.
it is essential that you monitor the performance of the task. set up a system of reporting so that you are always informed as to the status of the work. and then delegate the rest. It is the only way you can leverage and multiply your special skills and abilities. You must learn to think in terms of "getting things done through others" rather than trying to do them yourself. and to what standard. and never fully hand over both authority and responsibility to the other person." Once you have delegated a task to the right person in the right way. Your job is then to make sure that he or she has the time and resources necessary to get the job done Million Dollar Habits – Page 153 . and when. The rule is. You must set up a system to monitor the task and make sure that it is being done as agreed upon. Be sure that the other person knows what is to be done. Remember. You are still responsible for the ultimate results of the delegated tasks.task. You must do the same thing. and make sure that it is done on schedule. When you have delegated a task. In our Advanced Coaching and Mentoring Programs. You must stay on top of it. we teach executives and entrepreneurs to identify the two or three things that they do that contribute the most value to their companies. and to the required level of quality. "inspect what you expect. delegation is not abdication. Inspect What You Expect The fifth requirement for business success is for you to develop the habit of proper supervision.
in his book. Whichever number you choose. Everyone who is expected to carry out a task must know with complete clarity the targets that he or she is aiming at. measures and activities that are then used as benchmarks for performance. we teach the importance of your selecting and defining specific goals. People around you need to know what is going on. measurable standards and score cards for the results that you require.satisfactorily. Your bankers need to know your financial results. it must be clear to everyone. What Gets Measured Gets Done The sixth practice of successful entrepreneurs and executives is the habit of measuring performance. refers to the importance of selecting the "economic denominator" for a company. You must set specific. the more often you should check on progress. how successful performance will be measured. You have to set specific time lines and deadlines to make sure that you "make your numbers" on schedule. and it must be monitored continually to make sure that everyone is on track. and for individual goals and objectives within that company. Keep People Informed The seventh habit for businesspeople is the habit of reporting results regularly and accurately. The more important the job. Jim Collins. In our Focal Point process. From Good To Great. and when the expected results are due. Your staff needs to know the status and the situation Million Dollar Habits – Page 154 .
This competitive instinct and determination to win in the face of any obstacle or difficulty is a chief motivating power that drives entrepreneurs and eventually assures successful careers. as well. through practice. The more thoroughly and accurately you report to people the details and situation of your business.of your company. motivates and enthuses other people and enables ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results. you use speed and flexibility to find solutions to problems. The determination to succeed is an absolutely essential habit for you to develop. Instead. there are additional habits that you need to develop. to succeed. to overcome obstacles and to achieve business goals. at all levels. several thousand employees said that the most important factor leading to job satisfaction was. This decision. Your key people. need to know what results are being achieved. In a study on workplace motivation. "being in the know. or attitude toward winning. the happier they will be. and the better results they will get. by never considering the possibility of failure. One of these habits is the determination to win." People in an organization have a deep need to know and understand what is going on around them in relation to their work. Million Dollar Habits – Page 155 . and to become a self-made millionaire. no matter what is happening around you. The Habits of Winners In Business To succeed greatly in business. to outperform your competition and to ultimately be successful.
be prepared to ask. Very often this is not the case at all. Abraham Lincoln was once trying to make a point to the members of his cabinet. The primary reason for the dotcom implosion was because there was no real market for the products and services that the dotcom companies were offering. market or competitor were not true at all? What changes would I have to make?" The most dangerous assumption that an entrepreneur or businessperson can make is that there exists a large enough and profitable enough market for a particular product or service. "What if my assumptions about this customer." People often get caught up in an argument because it is asserted loudly and vigorously. Many people leap to conclusions and assume things about their customers. Always be prepared to ask yourself." Million Dollar Habits – Page 156 . They fell into a false form of thinking called "argument by assertion. and called the dog's tail a leg. service. "What do I base this assumption on?" What are my facts? What evidence do I have? What is my proof?" And most important. Assertion is not proof. "If you took a dog.Be Open To New Information Develop the habit of questioning your assumptions on a regular basis. even though it may have no substance at all. their competitors and their markets that have no basis in fact at all. product. how many legs would the dog now have?" Several of his cabinet ministers suggested the answer. He asked this question. especially when you experience resistance or temporary failure. "Five.
products and services. and the actual decision itself. Put it off as long as possible. markets. develop the habit of buying time between the pressure to make a decision. or even a week or a month. we leap to conclusions and make decisions without carefully considering all the possible ramifications of those decisions. the dog still has only four legs. Instead. or a weekend. Lincoln pointed out that. and making your decisions based on demonstrable. "No. provable truths with regard to customers. Make it a habit of asking for a day. It is essential that you develop the habit of sorting out facts from fantasy." Your mind is incredibly powerful. Think Before Acting In a fast changing business world." The moral of this story is that asserting. Only facts are facts. There is a rule that says. Calling a tail a leg does not make it a leg. or hoping that a fact is true does not have any bearing on the ultimate truth of the statement. Often. wishing. "If the decision does not have to be made now.At this. and never more so than when you give it time to reflect upon a decision before you make the decision in the first place. it has to not be made now. before you make a final decision. when we are pressured from all sides with decisions that have to be made. Million Dollar Habits – Page 157 . The very act of allowing the various pieces of information to settle in your brain will enable you to make a much better decision later on than you might have made if you decided too quickly. an important habit that you can develop is the habit of thinking before acting.
I would have made a completely different decision. A mastermind group can be either structured or unstructured. In a structured mastermind group. "If I had just thought about that for a little while. Your Mastermind Network Another habit for business success is the habit of masterminding with other people. we work with successful entrepreneurs to create masterminding groups with other entrepreneurs to develop business ideas and make better business decisions. both inside your company and outside. Million Dollar Habits – Page 158 . a particular question such as. "How can we increase sales in this market?" is thrown out and everyone brainstorms different ideas that they have found or are trying in their own businesses. Either one will be effective. They will invariably be better decisions when you finally come around to making them. Make it a habit to delay and defer decisions as long as you possibly can. entrepreneurs who have been struggling with business questions and problems for many months get solutions from the members of their mastermind group in a matter of minutes. In our Advanced Coaching and Mentoring Program in San Diego. an idea that has proven successful in one type of business is exactly the idea that works successfully for a completely different business." This is almost always the case. The result is absolutely astonishing! Very often. Very often.It is amazing how many people say.
Listen attentively without interrupting when people make suggestions. Out of this ferment often come great ideas that members of the mastermind group can use in their own activities. If you own your own business. sales. you should sit down with your key people and mastermind a couple of times each week. competitors. You will be absolutely amazed at the quality of ideas that seem to emerge when you practice masterminding and brainstorming on a regular basis. revenues and profits out of the business than are currently being achieved. customers. The first key result area. or habit that you need to develop is the habit of thinking continually in terms of increasing productivity. These are all habitual ways of thinking for business success and profitability. the economy. people get together and "free-flow. Ask if anyone has any suggestions or ideas.In an unstructured brainstorming session. The goal of strategic planning is to "increase return on equity. The Foundations of Business Success There are seven key result areas in management. Go around the table and invite input from everyone. Million Dollar Habits – Page 159 ." It is to increase the financial results and outputs relative to the costs and inputs involved. It is to get more sales." They talk in general terms about business. All business success is a result of working regularly in these seven areas to achieve better results. Talk about how the business is going and some of the problems that you are facing. and so on.
The starting point of developing this habit is for you to be absolutely clear about how your customers define satisfaction. They look for ways to do more with less. Look at what you are doing today. the speed at which the pizza was delivered was more important than the relative quality of the food. or less of? What could you start doing that you are not doing today? What could you stop doing altogether? What is it that you are doing today that.All successful businesspeople think continually in terms of increasing productivity. is the habit of thinking in terms of customer satisfaction all the time. knowing what you now know. the founder of Domino's Pizza. at a lower cost.000 unit pizza empire that extends around the Million Dollar Habits – Page 160 . With this single insight. to get more out. Satisfy Your Customers The second key result area. found that when people ordered a pizza. Even in times of economic growth and prosperity. performance and output of yourself. or habit that you can develop. and your business by changing the things you do? What could you do more of." Thomas Monahan. which we have already discussed. you wouldn't start up again today? The answers to these questions can lead you to productivity breakthroughs that will dramatically improve your financial results. they were already hungry. What has to happen for your customers to be so happy with you that they buy again and tell their friends? Domino's Pizza is famous for having defined customer satisfaction as "speed. they are continually looking for ways to increase results at lower costs. For them. Thomas Monahan built a 7. How could you increase the productivity.
Many businesses focus too much on the top line. customers or markets should you emphasize or deemphasize? Always think in terms of the bottom-line. Not a bad return on a single insight into what customers really wanted! How do your customers define satisfaction? Profits Are The True Measure The third habit you need to develop is the habit of thinking in terms of profitability all the time. on gross sales.8 billion dollars. "Always concentrate on net profits. Million Dollar Habits – Page 161 . on their best selling products or services. What are your most profitable products? What are your most profitable services? Who are your most profitable customers? What are your most profitable markets? What products. on net profits. rather than on the bottom line. Many companies are finding that certain products and services that they sell in large volume. Many companies today are finding that their largest customers. They are actually breaking even. services. services. are not particularly profitable at all." You should analyze each of your products. or even losing money. As Baron de Rothschild. are not profitable. because of many hidden costs involved. and retired with a personal fortune of $1. because of high servicing costs and discounts. customers and markets to determine exactly how profitable they are. of the dollar for dollar profitability of each one of your business activities.world. in his Maxims For Success said.
Your Most Valuable Assets Million Dollar Habits – Page 162 . The most important goal you can set for yourself and your business is to "be the best" in some area that is important to your customers. These letters stand for. but it is also the key to motivation and commitment among the people who work for the company. Customers only buy a product or service because they feel that it is of higher quality in some way than that of competitive offerings. "Continuous And Never Ending Improvement. and however well you are doing it. How do your customers define quality? What qualities or attributes of what you sell cause them to buy from you in the first place? What quality elements do they see in your competitors? How could you offset these elements to get them to buy from you? One of your most important activities should be regular customer interaction. and how you could improve your quality and service to them.Excellence Is The Answer The fourth key result area is the habit of thinking in terms of quality all the time. you will have to be doing it considerably better a year from now if you still want to be in business. to serving customers better than anyone else. Practice the CANEI method. whatever got you to where you are today is not enough to keep you there. Whatever you are doing today. where you ask your customers why it is they buy from you. This is not only the key to increased sales and profitability. to excellence." Remember. Everyone likes to be part of an organization that is committed to winning.
The fifth key result area in business is the habit of thinking in terms of people building. This habit requires that you continually look for ways to organize and reorganize your business so that it functions more efficiently and effectively in getting the results you desire. Remember. Compliment on them on their accomplishments. Develop the habit of spending time with the most important people in your business." it would be a sign that there were serious problems in that company. Of all assets. Your people are everything. if a company announced that it was going through a "major reorganization. your primary asserts walk out the door at 5:00 pm. You continually move people around to assure that the job gets done better. Some years ago. there is no other source. All productivity comes from them. Make them feel important and valuable. with the rate of rapid change in the business world Million Dollar Habits – Page 163 . Your ability to select them and then to motivate and inspire them is essential for your success. faster and with less friction or interruption. Take them for coffee or lunch. All profitability comes from your people. the very best companies have the very best people. In business today. only people can be made to appreciate in value by investing time and training in them. All sales and fulfillment comes from your people. And these people are invariably the ones who are the happiest because of the way they are treated by others. especially by their bosses. Reorganize Your Business Continually The sixth habit you can develop to build your business is the habit of organizational development. Today however. Ask them for their opinions.
week and month. Start off the meeting by going around the table and having Million Dollar Habits – Page 164 . Encourage them to be self-directed learners. Every day. you should develop the habit of not only learning and growing continuously yourself. you should be thinking about how you can deploy and redeploy people and resources to assure the highest level of productivity. Never Be Satisfied The seventh habit you can develop is the habit of continuous innovation. one additional skill is all that a person needs to dramatically improve his or her productivity and contribution to the organization. but you should offer to pay for any courses or seminars that they take to improve their business ability. performance and output. you should encourage everyone to be thinking creatively all the time. you and your company should be in a state of continuous reorganization.around you. You should not only offer learning opportunities to your staff. As we discussed earlier in this chapter. Within the context of organizational development. Sometimes. Encourage them to attend courses and seminars that are offered in your community that will help them to improve their performance and get better results. but also thinking in terms of training and learning experiences for the key members of your staff. One way to encourage creativity is to ask each person to bring an idea to each weekly staff meeting. This is one of the most powerful motivational techniques of all.
faster and cheaper for your competitors. Think of new markets that you can enter. lead the group in applause for the idea. $5 or $10. You should have a company suggestion box. Encourage them to keep thinking in this way throughout the week. Remember.everyone contribute their ideas. You will be absolutely amazed at how many good ideas your people will come up with when they are encouraged and rewarded for thinking creatively. Think of different ways that you can offset advantages enjoyed by your competitors. fully 80% of products and services being sold today will be obsolete within five years. Announce the award for the best idea at the weekly staff meeting. Offer a financial prize each week for the best idea to increase sales or cut costs. When someone comes up with a great idea. Think of different ways that you could dominate your markets. Thank and congratulate the person. your competitors will. You must be developing and producing product and service innovations as a regular part of your business activities. Think of new products and services that you can offer. to motivate people to think creatively all the time. Be a leader. Think ahead and look at different ways that you can organize and reorganize your business to do things better. Hand it out and congratulate the person. If you don't. not a follower. The Million Dollar Habits – Page 165 . The most important area for you to apply the habit of continuous innovation is to your products and services. Shake his or her hand. Lead a hand of applause. Lead the general discussion about these ideas. One major innovation by a determined competitor can put you out of business. It doesn't have to be very large.
you will probably notice that none of them cost any money. it becomes a permanent part of the way you think. Brainpower Is the Most Important Competitive Advantage As you read through the suggestions for the development of business habits in this chapter. walk. The Law of Concentration says. the more and better ideas you will come up with. the more habitual it will be for you to plan thoroughly in advance. The more you think about the importance of hiring and staffing. talk act and get results. No One Better or Smarter Million Dollar Habits – Page 166 . via practice and repetition. "Whatever you dwell upon grows and expands in your life. the more it will become a habit for you to think in terms of different ways that you can satisfy your customers better than anyone else. Eventually. You can develop them by simply reflecting upon the idea or habit on a regular basis. The more you think about the importance of planning. Every single one of these habits of thinking is learnable." The more you think about any one of these habits or behaviors. the more you incorporate that habit or behavior into your personality. The more you think about customer satisfaction.more you dedicate yourself to generating ideas. the more habitual it will be for you to think through the decision carefully before you hire a new person.
achieve all your financial goals. no one is smarter than you. you will eventually overcome all of your obstacles and difficulties. Action Exercises: 1. And whatever other people have learned.Remember. What is the most important difference or improvement you make in the life and work of your customers. Create an ideal future vision for your business and your career. Nothing can stop you. and no one is better than you. if your situation were perfect 3-5 years from now. 2. If someone is doing better than you are today. what would it look like? 3. By developing the thinking habits of successful entrepreneurs and businesspeople. Determine the most important thing you could do immediately to increase the probabilities that you successfully achieve your most important business goal. it is because they have developed a particular habit of thinking and acting before you have. you can learn as well. and then take action on it immediately. and how could you do this in an excellent fashion? 4. The only limits on your results are the limits that you place on yourself with your own thinking. The very fact that there are many hundreds of thousands of men and women who have started from nothing and become millionaires in business and entrepreneurship means that you can achieve these goals for yourself. if you just learn how. and become financially independent. What is your greatest personal strength in your business. and how could you organize your time so that you are doing more of it? Million Dollar Habits – Page 167 .
customers and activities.5. What is your biggest weakness in your business. services. or compensate for it? 6. and what steps could you take immediately to focus more of your resources in those areas? "Nothing contributes so much to the happiness and prosperity of a country as high profits. What innovations could you make in your products or services that would make them more attractive to your customers of today and tomorrow? 7." (David Ricardo) Million Dollar Habits – Page 168 . What are your most profitable products. markets. and how could you develop yourself in this area.
office buildings. Virtually all wealth is based on somebody producing a product or service and selling it to someone else at a profit. which at least momentarily weds company and customer. it ceases to be profitable and ceases to exist. America is considered the most entrepreneurial country in the world according to the OECD (2003) because it is more open to more people who want to create and sell products and services to others. all taxes. roads. welfare. and for all hospitals. Where there are low sales. Jr) Calvin Coolidge once said. or failing therein. there is low prosperity. unemployment insurance. than any other country or geographical entity. all medical expenses. it performs some great service. "No enterprise can exist for itself alone. Peters & Robert H. Waterman." He also said. and everything else of a material nature in America. but for others. "The business of America is business. schools. defense.Chapter Eight Habits for Marketing and Sales Success "All business success rests on something labeled a sale. Million Dollar Habits – Page 169 ." America is the greatest commercial society in history. lack of economic opportunity. Where there are high sales." (Thomas J. all education. and the market is larger. It is the revenues and profits from sales that pay all wages. not for itself. there is high prosperity. airports. It ministers to some great need. decline and ultimately failure.
Every year. Businesses fail because of declining sales and revenues. businesses fail because of low sales. until someone sells something to someone. merge. Over the years. which ultimately leads to the collapse of the enterprise. Over the years. "Nothing happens until a sale takes place. Dunn and Bradstreet conducts a study to determine the major factors leading to business failure in that particular 12-month period. active businesses are invited to contribute their financial information to this database. many thousands of companies close down. This program sorted out all the variables and distilled business success and failure into a simple conclusion: Businesses succeed because of high sales. changes in technology. or over-indebtedness. Million Dollar Habits – Page 170 . Dunn and Bradstreet took all the statistics that they had generated on failing companies over the years and ran them through a supercomputer. the reasons for business failure have been high interest costs. All else is commentary. or go bankrupt.The Reason for Success or Failure Dunn and Bradstreet offers a credit rating service that includes most of the businesses in the U. The rule is that. Each year. which is then made available for credit purposes to prospective suppliers and vendors." Businesses succeed because they make sufficient sales and generate sufficient profitability to survive and grow in the current marketplace.S. poor management or under-capitalization. Often it is high inventory relative to sales. Not long ago.
It is a real number. It is the critical indicator of business success or failure." In the wake of the accounting scandals amongst major companies on Wall Street. quantifiable and definite. "free cash flow. Your Critical Determinant of Contribution The greater influence that you have on the cash flow of your enterprise. The more you can contribute toward increasing cash flow. the accounting profession has reverted to focusing on what they consider to be the most important single economic denominator of business success. less all the costs of generating those sales and fulfilling those orders. Where does free cash flow come from? It comes from marketing and sales. All mortgages." Free cash flow is the amount of money that is left over or generated by the activities of the business. It is measurable. the more valuable and important you are to that business. Million Dollar Habits – Page 171 . There is no other source. advances and lines of credit must ultimately be justified and repaid out of marketing and sales revenues. after all expenses have been subtracted. Sales are everything.The Most Important Number The most important single number in the operation of any business is "cash flow. It is there in the bank account to be accounted for and spent by the business. It exists. loans. the higher you will be paid and the faster you will be promoted. It cannot be faked.
They have what Tom Peters calls. Individuals and organizations that specialize are far more effective in creating and keeping customers than companies that generalize or try to offer too many Million Dollar Habits – Page 172 . This is the critical habit that you must develop to become a self-made millionaire as an entrepreneur or as a key person in any business. "an obsession with customer service. Let me describe each of them in turn. especially in the area of generating sales. They think about their customers and how to serve them all the time. on making more and better sales. segmentation and concentration. The Four Habits of Marketing Success There are several strategies. and on developing larger and more profitable markets. revenues and cash flow for your business. differentiation. that you can learn through practice that will make you a much more efficient and effective businessperson. They think about customers and sales night and day. These are specialization.One of the most important habits that you develop on your way to becoming a selfmade millionaire is the habit of sales-orientation. All successful entrepreneurs and business people are intensely customer and sales focused. They are fixated on getting and keeping customers. or habits of thinking and acting." They think continually about how to make more sales to more and better customers. To develop the habit of specialization requires that you decide clearly the area in which you are going to specialize to compete and win in the current market.
if you specialize in fast food. You do not offer any product or service that don't fall into the category of "fast food." If you specialize in automotive transportation. even though your plants or factories could be adapted to produce these products over time. You must do the same. dedicate themselves to specializing in a particular area where they have the ability to achieve market dominance. photocopiers or refrigerators. you do not manufacture tractors. You can specialize in one of three main areas: products or services. customers. You specialize in automobiles. there is a natural tendency in personal and business life toward diffusion of effort. at too many price points. For example. You specialize in a particular product or service when you decide that you are going to focus all of your energies on producing and selling a specific product or service that achieves a specific goal for your customers. or markets. in too many ways. Be Different From All The Rest Million Dollar Habits – Page 173 . Just as the pellets of a shotgun shell will spread soon after emerging from the barrel. But successful individuals and organizations resist the temptation to spread their efforts and instead. There are so many opportunities and possibilities that the temptation to generalize. and to offer a wide range of products and services serving a wide range of customers and markets is very tempting. you only produce foods that can be picked up and consumed on the remises or immediately thereafter.products and services to too many customers and markets.
Without a clear competitive advantage. or your area of excellence. Sometimes it is long-term durability of a product. This is called your area of competitive advantage. it is impossible for you to survive and thrive in a tough market. an area of excellence or superiority. Your area of differentiation describes what it is that you offer to your customers that make your product or service superior to anything else available. and perhaps the most important. Sometimes "the best" is speedy delivery. "What is my competitive advantage today?" What makes your product or service superior to that of any of your competitors? It may be something as simple as the location of your business." Ask yourself.The second habit for marketing success. don't compete. such as the personalities of the key people who sell and deliver your product or service. you must decide where and how you are going to differentiate yourself from your competitors. As Jack Welch once said. "If you don't have competitive advantage. It may be something less tangible. But in every case. Million Dollar Habits – Page 174 . Sometimes it is convenience or low price. Customers only buy what they consider to be "the best" as it relates to their specific need at the moment. Many entrepreneurial businesses are started and become successful because of the personality and character of a single individual who customers prefer to deal with rather than with anyone else in that same field. How clear you are with regard to your competitive advantage largely determines the effectiveness of all your sales and marketing efforts. is the habit of differentiating your product or service from that of all other competitors for the same customer.
and at the reasons why people do not buy from you. Once defined. and then to take whatever steps are necessary today to be sure that you have the competitive advantage you need sometime in the future. it becomes the core message that you convey in all of your advertising and sales. buy from your competitors. What is your competitive advantage today? What will your competitive advantage be 3-5 years from now? What should it be? What could it be? What are the trends in your business. or even worse. the development of this competitive advantage. is essential to your long-term success. what competitive advantage do you need to develop if you want to lead your field? Million Dollar Habits – Page 175 . Everyone in your company must know with absolute clarity why and how it is that what you offer is better in a particular way. The determination of this area of excellence. What do you need to be absolutely excellent at doing for your customer? Looking around you at your marketplace today.Determine Your Competitive Advantage You should be able to write down your area of competitive advantage on the back of a business card. is the fundamental key to business success. and what will you have to be doing in an excellent fashion 3-5 years from now in order to survive and thrive in the marketplace of the future? Your ability to think ahead and answer these questions. Everyone must know why it is that customers should buy your product or service rather than any similar product or service available.
These prospects are more willing than most prospects to buy from you. Million Dollar Habits – Page 176 . Developing your competitive advantage the key to success in any business. who appreciates what your product or service does better than your competitors. but they are not all prospective customers for you and your business. manufacturing or distribution. is the key to marketing success. there is a profile of potential buyers who are "high probability customers. There are many people who might be able to buy what you sell. what could your competitive advantage be sometime in the future? What steps could you or should you take today in order to assure that your products and services are clearly superior to that of your competitors sometime in the future? The habit of asking and answering these questions for yourself is the core responsibility of the entrepreneur or executive. change your market or methods of sales. and to create a profile of the exact type of customer who can most benefit from the product or service that you specialize in. change your product or service offerings. Your ability to analyze your market.What could your competitive advantage be? If you were to reorganize your business." These are people who very much value what it is you do in an excellent fashion. In any market. It is the primary reason for high sales and high profitability in any business large or small. Determine Your Best Potential Customers The third habit of marketing is the habit of segmentation. marketing. They are willing to pay you more money for your particular product or service because they value your offering more than those of your competitors.
As products. The ability to concentrate in particular. Million Dollar Habits – Page 177 . customers and needs change rapidly. Your ability to identify this ideal customer for what you sell is the key to focusing your marketing and sales efforts and activities. and to focus all of your marketing and sales efforts and energies on those specific customers that you have identified who can most benefit from what you sell. revenue and profits. there is a "Seven P Formula" that you should use to continually evaluate and reevaluate your business activities. markets. "In what areas do we specialize? In what areas are we superior to our competitors in our area of specialization? Who are the most desirable and attractive market segments for what it is that we do better than anyone else? How can we organize ourselves to concentrate all of our resources on selling more to those customers who most appreciate what we can do for them better than our competitors?" Your ability to ask and answer these questions accurately can transform your business results. is the key to maximizing your sales. you must continually revisit these seven P's to make sure that you are on track and achieving the maximum results that are possible for you in today's marketplace. Develop the habit of thinking like a marketing genius.They will pay faster and more dependably than other prospects. Once you have developed your marketing strategy. Focus and Concentrate Your Sales Efforts The fourth habit for marketing success is the habit of concentration. Your ability to concentrate in general is essential for achieving success in any activity. Develop the habit of asking yourself questions like.
or mix of products or services appropriate and suitable for the market and the customers of today?" Whenever you are having difficulty selling as much of your products or services as you want. to produce a product or service to sell into the market that existed at that time.Look From the Outside To begin. facilities and so on. could you develop an area of superiority? Should you be offering this product or service at all in the current marketplace? Take the Bundle of Resources Viewpoint Develop the habit of looking upon your business as a "bundle of resources. Ask critical questions such as. "Is your current product or service. is your product or service superior in some significant way to anything else that is available? If so. "Are these the right products or services for our customers today?" Is there any product or service that you are offering today that. develop the habit of looking at your product as though you were an outside marketing consultant having been brought in to help your company decide whether or not it is in the right business at this time. you need to develop the habit of assessing your business honestly and asking. knowing what you now know. money. you would not bring out again today? Compared to your competitors. your business did not exist. When it began. you brought together a variety of resources. Million Dollar Habits – Page 178 ." At one time. what is it? If not. in the form of people.
Develop the habit of continually examining and reexamining the prices of the products and services that you sell. and the interest that you can charge on the amount that you carry will more than make up for the delay in cash receipts. At other times. but the remaining percentage generates a profit on every sale. you can sell far more than you are today. Resist the temptation to become rigid in your ideas about the products or services you sell. It can be aimed and fired in different directions. This bundle of resources can be combined and recombined to produce new products or services as the market changes. See your business as a bundle of resources that has the ability to offer a wide range of products or services if the market demands it. Consider Your Prices Carefully The second habit you need to develop has to do with price. By raising their prices. they may lose a percentage of their customers. by spreading your price over a series of months or years. Sometimes you can combine Million Dollar Habits – Page 179 . Be flexible and open to the possibility or necessity of offering something completely new or different. it may be appropriate to raise your prices. to make sure that they are still appropriate to the realities of the current market.This bundle of resources that makes up your company is very much like pistol. Many companies have found that the profitability of certain products or services does not justify the amount of effort and resources that go into producing them. Sometimes you need to lower your prices. Could this be appropriate for you? Sometimes you need to change your terms and conditions of sale. Sometimes.
Sometimes you can include free additional items that cost you very little to produce but which make your prices appear far more attractive to your customers than they were before. Even small changes in your advertising can lead immediately to higher sales. Be open to the need to revise your prices if necessary to remain competitive. in every industry. with special offers and special promotions. promoting and selling their products and services. Million Dollar Habits – Page 180 . Experienced copyrighters can often increase the response rate from advertising by 500% by simply changing the headline on an advertisement. to survive and thrive in a fast changing marketplace. continually experiment with different ways of advertising. Be open to the possibility that your current pricing structure is not ideal for the current market. In business. Proper Promotion Is the Key to High Sales The third habit in marketing and sales is for you to develop the habit of thinking in terms of promotion all the time. Large and small companies. and how you then market and sell to them.products and services together. "Promotion" includes all the ways that you tell your customers about your products or services. be open to revisiting that area. as in nature. Small changes in the way you promote and sell your products can lead to dramatic changes in your results. whenever you experience resistance or frustration in any part of your sales or marketing activities.
offerings and strategies. they are blind to the fact that fully 80% of sales success. stop working. is determined by the quality of the salespeople when they are face-to-face with the customer. marketing and advertising approaches. and sometimes it will be for reasons that you don't know." This is usually because many companies are operated by people who have not been in the sales field themselves. all they have received from their companies is "product training. no matter what the product and service.And here is the rule: whatever method of marketing and sales you are using today will. Small improvements in the quality of this interface can lead to dramatic improvements in the level of sales. sooner or later. make presentations and close the sale? Fully 70% of salespeople in America have never been given this type of sales training. your methods of marketing and sales will eventually stop working. Instead. if not more.000 salespeople. I have found that small changes in sales proficiency often lead to rapid Million Dollar Habits – Page 181 . As a result. and you will have to develop new sales. In either case. and no matter what the state of the current market. What are the exact words that are used? What is the exact offer that is made? What is the exact process that is used to identify the customer's needs. In my personal work with more than 500 companies. Sales Training Can Double Your Sales One of the most important parts of promoting your product or service has to do with the exact way that the product is sold when your customers are face to face with your salespeople. and more than 500. Sometimes it will stop working for reasons you know.
who have been able to increase their sales five and ten times by learning and practicing better sales methodologies. Develop the habit of reviewing and reflecting upon the exact location where the customer meets the salesperson. In each case.increases in sales results. sending their sales people out to personally meet and talk with the prospect. Where Your Product Is Sold Or Bought The fourth "P" in the marketing mix is the "place" where your product or service is actually sold. Some sell by telemarketing. I have worked with literally thousands of individuals. Some sell at tradeshows. Many companies use a combination of one or more of these methods. What is yours? In what way should you change it? Where else could you offer your products or services? How Good Does It Look? Million Dollar Habits – Page 182 . Some companies use direct selling. Some sell through catalogs or mail order. Sometimes a change in place can lead to a rapid increase in sales. Some companies use manufacturers representatives or distributors. or in retail establishments. the entrepreneur must make the right choice about the very best location or place for the customer to receive essential buying information on the product or service that he needs to make a buying decision. Some sell in joint ventures with other similar products or services. and hundreds of companies. There are many different places where you can sell your product.
Watson. Packaging also refers to your people. at least initially.. you should think in terms of everything that the customer sees with his or her eyes from the first moment of contact with your company. With regard to the packaging of your company.The fifth element in the marketing mix is the "packaging. and your product or service. Sr. Because IBM was selling relatively sophisticated high-tech equipment. people form their first impression about you within the first 30 seconds of seeing you or some element of your company. your correspondence and every single visual element about your company. would be represented by the salespeople for IBM. and how they dress and groom. Remember. Small improvements in the packaging or external appearance of your product or service can often lead to completely different reactions from your customers. The element of packaging refers to the way your product or service appears from the outside." Develop the habit of standing back and looking at every visual element in the packaging of your product or service through the eyes of a critical prospect. Everything counts. When IBM started. Watson knew that customers would have to have a high level of confidence in the credibility of the salesperson who was encouraging them to buy. It refers to your offices. Everything helps or hurts. under the guidance of Thomas J. he very early concluded that fully 99% of the visual contact that a customer would have with his company. or lowers his or her confidence in dealing with you. your brochures. and all the way through the purchasing process. Everything increases the confidence of your customer in dealing with you. your waiting rooms. He therefore Million Dollar Habits – Page 183 .
They recognized that people make lasting and important decisions based on how they look on the outside. During the dotcom boom of the late 90s. One of the highest compliments a person could receive was "You look like someone from IBM. sandals and undershirts. dark ties. changing their ways of dressing and grooming so they look better and more credible to their customers. Every element of their clothing. including dark suits. professionally appointed Million Dollar Habits – Page 184 . They often renovate their offices. especially their waiting rooms.instituted a dress and grooming code that became an inflexible set of rules and regulations within IBM. clean fingernails. They know the importance of appearance. shined shoes. white shirts. many young dotcom executives would come to work in shorts. But they would keep a business suit nearby to change into if a customer or venture capitalist came to visit. Many of my entrepreneurial clients return home from our Coaching and Mentoring sessions and completely revamp their images. when business was exploding. so that when their customers visit." Revamp Your Personal Image Many companies change their results by establishing a dress code for the people in their company who deal with their customers. conservative hairstyles. every salesperson was required to look like a professional in every respect. the first thing they see are beautiful. As a result. and every other feature gave off the message of professionalism and competence.
when you go to work. and when you meet with your customers or suppliers? Are you proud of the appearance of your staff? Do you feel happy to introduce your staff.premises. you should act immediately to change what needs to be changed. with the way they currently dress and look on the outside. Do you dress and look like a first class professional. How do people think about you and talk about you when you are not present? How do people think and talk about your company? What Million Dollar Habits – Page 185 . my clients report to me that their customers are more open and receptive to buying. organized and attractive? Are you proud to have critical customers visit you and walk around your facilities? Especially. do your products look absolutely excellent on the outside? Are your brochures beautifully designed and printed? Is your packaging attractive? Are you proud of every visual element that strikes the eyes of your customers in their dealings with you? Is there anything that you could or should change or improve to create a better visual image for your customers? If your answer is "yes" for any reason. clean. and easier to deal with." You should develop the habit of thinking continually about how you are positioned in the hearts and minds of your customers. when their surroundings are attractive and professional. In every case. Position Yourself Properly The next part of the marketing mix is called "positioning. in every respect. Ask yourself some questions. to your customers and supplies? Are your offices neat.
Begin by determining the position that you would like to have. Positioning." Develop the habit of thinking in terms of the people inside and outside of your business who are responsible for every element of your sales and marketing strategy and activities. Sometimes it is "service. and how much they will pay. Sometimes it is "the ultimate driving machine. In every case. If you could create an ideal impression in the hearts and minds of your customers. in terms of the specific words that people use when they describe you and your offerings to others? In the famous book by Reis and Trout. how deeply entrenched that attribute is in the minds of your customers and prospective customers. determines how readily they will buy your product or service. Attribution Theory says that most customers think of you in terms of a single attribute." as it is with BMW. they point out that how you are seen and thought about by your customers is the critical determinant of your success in a competitive marketplace." as it is with Mercedes Benz. either positive or negative." Sometimes it is "quality engineering. Million Dollar Habits – Page 186 ." Sometimes it is "excellence. Develop the habit of thinking about how you could improve your positioning. what would it be? What would you have to do in every customer interaction to get your customers to think and talk about you in that specific way? What changes do you need to make in the way you interact with customers today in order to be seen as the very best choice for your customers of tomorrow? People Are Everything The final part of the marketing mix is the "people.positioning do you have in your market.
Putting It All Together You have now developed the habit of marketing orientation. Million Dollar Habits – Page 187 . and then pay little attention to the fact that every single decision and policy has to be carried out by a specific person. Many of the best business plans ever developed sit on shelves today because they could not find the key people who could execute those plans. the second step was to "get the right people in the right seats on the bus. in a specific way." To be successful in business. he discovered that the most important factor applied by the best companies was that they first of all. continually thinking in terms of marketing strategy and the seven "P" marketing mix. In his best selling book. In many cases.It is amazing how many entrepreneurs and businesspeople will work extremely hard to think through every element of the marketing strategy and the marketing mix. with the skills and abilities to do the job that you need to have done. "got the right people on the bus. Good To Great. recruit. and the wrong people off the bus. hire and retain the proper people. is more important than everything else put together." Once these companies had hired the right people. it is not possible to move forward until you can attract and put the right person into the right position. by Jim Collins. you must develop the habit of thinking in terms of exactly who is going to carry out each task and responsibility. Your ability to select.
You must never relax in your prospecting efforts until you have so many customers that you do not have enough time left in the day to sell and satisfy all the people who want to buy from you. and how each of them could be improved. There are seven key habits that you must develop as a sales expert. To succeed greatly in sales. Sales orientation requires that you think continually about how to make more sales. noon and night. you must develop the habit of "spending more time with better prospects. at every level. and more profitably than ever before. continually thinking about your customers and how your activities. there several smaller but equally important habits you must develop to maximize your business potential." You must develop the habit of prospecting and looking for new business 80% of the time. Habitually thinking about each of these seven elements of the sales process. You must be prospecting morning. is the key to increasing your sales. faster and easier. your revenues and your profitability. Finding Ideal Customers The first habit of top salespeople is that they think about prospecting most of the time. In your development of the habit of sales orientation.You have developed the habit of customer orientation. affect them and influence their buying decisions. In reality. Million Dollar Habits – Page 188 . the sales effort is where the rubber meets the road in every competitive business. An average product that is aggressively sold by first class professionals will dramatically outsell a superior product that is sold in a mediocre way by untrained salespeople. better.
take as much time as is necessary to establish trust with that client. Promotion. If the prospect however. They seek to understand the customer's situation and needs before they make any attempt to talk about their product or service. or even worse." Million Dollar Habits – Page 189 . the details will trip you up every step of the way. They lean forward and take careful notes. Place. you will already have a good idea of the customers and prospects that you should focus on. The most successful salespeople.If you have analyzed your business in terms of specialization. or whether you own the entire company. trust and credibility with each prospect from the first contact. They ask good questions and listen closely to the answers. segmentation and concentration. Packaging. negative. Relationships Are Everything The second habit for sales success is the habit of focusing on the relationship before anything else. You should focus on establishing rapport. once they have identified a key prospect. is neutral toward you. the details will not get in the way of the sale. differentiation. you will be able to zero in more accurately on exactly those prospects who can most benefit the most rapidly from the product or service that you offer. "If the customer likes you and trusts you. The rule is this. But you must develop the habit of thinking about prospecting all the time. Price. whether you are a salesperson. If you have analyzed your business in terms of the seven P's: Product. Positioning and People.
different and offer advantages and benefits that the customer is not yet aware of. the presentation is where you Million Dollar Habits – Page 190 . logical. "I'm not interested. and suggest that he or she could be much better off with what you sell. the sale is actually made in the presentation.Identify Needs Clearly The third habit of top salespeople is that they make a habit of asking questions and identifying the real needs of the prospect relative to what they are selling. and in a cost effective way. well thought out presentations of the features and benefits of their product. Most prospects are not aware that they can improve their life or work situation when they first meet you. and eventually buying it. If you have identified a prospect who can benefit from what you sell. established a comfortable level of trust and rapport." This is normal and natural. The Presentation Is Where the Sale Is Made The fourth habit developed by all sales professionals is the habit of making excellent. and identified his or needs clearly." or "We're quite happy with our existing situation or supplier. the more open the customer becomes to learning about your product or service. This is the reason that prospects often say things like. Once they have clearly identified the customer's wants and needs." or "I can't afford it. The more you ask questions about the customer's situation. Most products and services that you sell are new. In reality. they show the customer that his or her needs can be ideally satisfied by their product or service.
and then teaching the customer how much better off he or she can be with your product or service. you position yourself as a friend. an advisor. He or she will then tell you everything you need to know to help him or her to make a buying decision. Finally. instead of trying to overwhelm resistance. As a friend.show the customer why it makes excellent sense for him or her to take action on your recommendations. you position yourself as a teacher by educating your customer in how he or she can most benefit from what you are selling. You invite comments and you make recommendations rather than attempting to induce the customer to buy. or as the satisfaction of a need. you instead present what you are selling as a solution to a problem. In positioning yourself as an advisor in the sales presentation. or to determine that your product or service is probably not appropriate for this customer at this time. and accept your recommendations. Once the customer realizes that he or she can trust you and what you say. Friend. the more the customer will relax and trust you. Teacher In effective selling. Advisor. you make it clear that you are more concerned with helping the customer to solve a problem or satisfy a need than you are about simply making a sale. You present your product or service by giving advice that helps the customer to understand why what you sell will improve his or her life or work situation. the customer will relax and open up. and a teacher. The more that you focus on learning about the customer's situation. Million Dollar Habits – Page 191 .
Answering Objections Effectively The fifth stage of excellent selling is the habit of answering objections and resolving concerns in a confident. and then wrapping up the sale. Your job is to move quickly and professionally through that stressful moment by asking for the order in a confident. or how high the level of trust and credibility that exists between you. They ask questions to make sure that there are no lingering objections. You then develop logical and complete answers to each of these objections so that you are prepared if and when they come up. They then ask clearly and straightforwardly for a buying decision. No matter how good your presentation. Asking For the Decision The sixth part of selling is developing the habit of asking the customer to make a buying decision. They watch for buying signals from the customer. competent manner. The very best sales professionals have thought through every possible objection they could receive. there is always a moment of stress or tension at the making of a buying decision. they never arise again. so that once they arise and are answered. and developed completely clear "bullet proof answers" to them. professional manner. as reasons for not proceeding with your offer. and for the customer to take action now. The very best sales professionals plan their closes in advance. You do this by thinking through all the objections that a qualified prospect might give you. Million Dollar Habits – Page 192 .
and a continuous stream of new customers that come from referrals from their satisfied customers. Ask For Resales and Referrals Finally. The most successful salespeople and companies have high levels of repeat business. your work and your activities in such a way that your existing customers were so happy with you that they would give you a steady stream of referrals. the more motivated and positive you are about prospecting at the beginning of the sales process. the better you become at every other stage of the sales process. Here is an exercise for you. because you develop the habit or the "conditioned response" of anticipating sales success as the result of your efforts. top sales professionals develop the habit of asking for resales and referrals from each customer.Here's an interesting point: the more competent and confident you are in asking for the order at the end of the sales presentation. They therefore give good service to their customers and ask for referrals to similar prospects to the one to the person who has just bought from them. Imagine that three months from today. a law was going to go into effect that made it illegal for you to prospect for new customers. Million Dollar Habits – Page 193 . You would have to organize your time. The better you get at closing the sale. They know that every person they talk to knows at least 300 other people by their first name. The only selling that you could do would be to referrals that you received from your existing customer base. The habit of thinking in terms of resales and referrals is the key to high income and high profitability. You become self-motivated.
Million Dollar Habits – Page 194 . they discovered that product quality was only 20% determined by the actual product or service itself. starting today. they found that "perceived product quality" was the critical determinant of the sales. and fully 80% determined by the way that the customer was treated during the sales and ownership process. examining the sales and profitability of 620 companies over a multi-year period. buy again and bring their friends. more responsive and more efficient the people in the company were toward the customer. the higher level of customer loyalty and the greater perceived quality of the product or service sold. In addition.What could you do. growth and profitability of almost every company. These are customers that buy from you. The nicer. and urge them to buy from you. These are people who become "customer advocates. to work "by referral only?" What steps could you take immediately to assure that your existing customers supply you with an endless stream of referrals in the future? What should you do right now to begin this process? The key to success in business is repeat customers." They tell everybody they know about how good your products and services are. The Keys to Profitability In the PIMS Studies at Harvard.
and then organizing the entire business to be sure that those expectations are delivered upon 100% of the time. This is doubly true with regard to customers. The most successful and profitable companies are those that made a habit of clearly identifying what customers expect.Superb Customer Service There are four habits that you need to develop to achieve a reputation for superb customer service. Whenever you experience negative emotions of any kind. The first level of service is for you to develop the habit of consistently meeting the expectations of your customers. frustration and negative emotions." This is when we expect something to happen and it does not happen the way that we wanted it to. A primary source of anger. To achieve this. And whatever it is. There are four levels of customer service that determine your ranking in your industry. it is absolutely essential that you find out what customers expect of you. lower marketing and sales costs. Do More Than Is Expected Million Dollar Habits – Page 195 . it is vital to your survival and success that you meet those expectations every single time. The habit of service orientation toward your customers is the key to repeat sales. both personally and commercially. is "frustrated expectations. it can almost always be traced to having been frustrated or disappointed in a particular expectation. and higher profitability. and their dealings with different companies.
your competitors will copy you and duplicate your efforts in an attempt to stay even with you. From then on.However. You must do things that are outside of the range of expectations. You must do more than customers expect. every time a way of exceeding customer expectations becomes common knowledge in the workplace. You delight your customers when you do something that is so unusual that it makes your customers especially happy. if not get ahead. and it becomes known in the marketplace. customers expect to get what was at one time something extra in the normal course of doing business with you. as soon as a company finds a way to exceed customer expectations. It is these extra things that you do that cause customers to be happy in dealing with you. faster. Could you offer something extra to your customers that they did not expect? Could you do something extra for your customers that they had not thought of? How can you exceed your customer's expectations. It is not enough for you to grow and succeed in a competitive marketplace. it becomes a normal expectation of customers. Delight Your Customers The third level of customer satisfaction is when you develop the habit of delighting your customers. To do that. every day? As it happens. you must develop the habit of exceeding customer expectations. Therefore. meeting customer expectations is just enough to keep you in business. cheaper and easier that will make your customers happy that they dealt with you. and cause them to want to buy from you again What are the little things that you can do better. It can be something as little Million Dollar Habits – Page 196 .
as a follow-up call from a senior executive to a new customer. like a gift of flowers or fruit to a customer who just placed a large order. It can be something larger. charted a helicopter to fly over the mountains and deliver Federal Express packages to his key customers. Amaze Your Customers The highest level of customer service is when you develop the habit of amazing your customers. leave a wonderful impression in the customer's mind and dramatically increase the probability that he or she will buy from you again. positively has to be there overnight. Some years ago. It can be a call thanking them for the business and asking them for any ideas on how you might improve your services to them in the future. which are not particularly expensive. Develop the habit of continually thinking of things you could do that would amaze your customers. This could change the whole nature of your business. This is when you do something for them that is so extraordinary that they want to run around and tell everybody they know. Without reference to his superiors. Million Dollar Habits – Page 197 . In every case. It can be a personal visit by a key executive to a new customer. who was blocked from fulfilling the promise of Federal Express. It can be a thank you card signed by several people in the company. in the midst of the Federal Express advertising campaign." there was a major blizzard in Colorado that closed down the mountain passes between Denver and the ski resorts to the west. these little gestures. a Federal Express deliveryman. "When it absolutely.
If you genuinely loved your customers. what would be the first thing you could do to demonstrate this? Nothing happens until a sale takes place. what would you do differently from the way that you deal with them today? What changes would you make in your product or service quality standards? What changes would you make in your customer service policies? If you genuinely loved your customers. you will become better and better in every area. your marketing and sales efforts and your business activities. your products." Stand back and look at your customers. is the most important habit that you can develop for business and financial success. You will achieve all your business.To get maximum benefit. he telephoned ahead to find out where he could land a helicopter to deliver the packages. sales and customer service all the time. It cost Federal Express several thousand dollars for the helicopter. Your ability to put yourself in the shoes of your customers. your services. The story was picked up by the newspapers and eventually broadcast worldwide. Love Your Customers Perhaps the most important habit that you can develop for business success is to think in terms of "loving your customers. but it earned them millions of dollars in good publicity by their effort to amaze their customers with service beyond anything they could ever expect. and wanted to please and satisfy them more and better than anyone else. the way you love the most important people in your life. to treat each customer the way that you would like to be treated if the situation was reversed. personal and financial Million Dollar Habits – Page 198 . By developing the habit of thinking in terms of marketing.
and who can buy and pay the most readily. Action Exercises: 1.goals and lead the field in your business. You will earn the esteem. your "unique selling proposition. 7. and make a plan to become the best in that area. 2. Determine your area of specialization. loyalty and respect of everyone inside and outside of your business. because they are. 6.'" (Orison Swett Marden) Million Dollar Habits – Page 199 . 5." and organize all your marketing and sales efforts around it. Focus and concentrate all your marketing and sales efforts on your very best prospective customers. Treat your customers as if they were the most important people in your business life. 4. in customers. and become one of the most successful businesspeople of your generation. 3. Position yourself in everything you say and do as the most credible and believable supplier of your product or service to your ideal customer. products or markets. "The Golden Rule for every businessman is this: 'Put yourself in your customer's place. Decide upon your area of excellence. Decide upon the improvements you are going to make immediately to sell and service your customers better than anyone else in your market. Segment your market and determine those prospects who can most benefit from what you do well.
once wrote. High performing. enjoy higher levels of health and energy. Your aim should be to get the very most out of yourself in every area of your life. happy men and women are those who have taken the time and disciplined themselves to develop the habits that lead them Million Dollar Habits – Page 200 . achieve much higher levels of success. the transpersonal psychologist. "The ultimate end of human life is to become everything you are capable of becoming. have better families. successful.Chapter Nine The Habits of Personal Effectiveness "The man who succeeds above his fellows is the one who early in life clearly discerns his object. as opposed to the great majority who accomplish very little. and towards that object habitually directs his powers. esteem and prestige in their fields. This should be your goal as well. The Determinant of High Performance The only difference between the high performers and the low performers is their habits. There are some people who accomplish an extraordinary amount with their lives." (Edward George Bulwer-Lytton) Abraham Maslow. friends and relationships. happier lives than the average. These peak performers or self-actualizers seem to earn more money. and live longer." Your purpose should be to fulfill your potential as a human being and to accomplish every goal that you can possibly set for yourself.
onward and upward in every area of their lives. Unsuccessful, unhappy people, on the other hand, are those who have not yet developed those habits.
The good news is that all habits have been learned, and are therefore learnable. You can learn whatever habits and behaviors you consider desirable and necessary. The only limits are the limits your place on yourself. The question is always, "How badly do you want it?"
If you are willing to work on yourself long enough and hard enough, you can form and shape yourself into the kind of excellent person that you are designed to be. No matter what you have done or not done in the past, at any time, you can draw a line under your previous life and make the decision that your future is going to be different. You can begin thinking different thoughts, making different choices and decisions, taking different actions, and developing different habits that will lead you inevitably to the successes that are possible for you.
Personal Strategic Planning
The purpose of strategic planning in a business is to increase "return on equity" or R.O.E. It is to improve the financial results of the business over what they would have been in the absence of the new strategy. In the same way, the purpose of personal strategic planning is to increase R.O.E., or "return on energy." It is to increase your "return on life."
The aim is for you to organize and reorganize your life in such a way that you are earning the highest returns on your mental, emotional and physical equity invested
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in your life. Your goal is to organize yourself and use your time to achieve the greatest amount of pleasure, satisfaction and rewards from everything you do, every hour and every day. And this is very much under your own personal control.
The first habit therefore that you must develop to insure a great life is the habit of personal strategic planning. You invest the time and effort to think through and plan out your life, in advance, to assure that you get the very most that is possible for you in every area.
With personal strategic planning, you develop the habits of future orientation and long-time perspective. These habits enable you to project forward in your life several years and determine exactly what it is that you want to accomplish and where it is that you want to end up at a specific time in the future.
Think Long Term
The greater clarity that you have regarding your long-term goals, the better and more accurate decisions you will make in the short-term to assure that you achieve your goals on schedule. For example, if you decide that you are going to be a selfmade millionaire 10 to 20 years from now, you set that as your long-term financial goal. You then assess your current situation, and determine how much you are worth today. You draw a line from where you are today to where you want to be at a certain date in the future. You then plan out a strategy or roadmap of exactly how you are going to get to your goal of financial independence in the time that you have allotted.
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The rule is this: be clear about the goal but be flexible about the process. Be open to the fact that a thousand things will change on the road to your long-term goal. As long as your goal is clear, you can continue to remain flexible and openminded. You can reevaluate and try different things. You can accept feedback and self-correct. You can go over, around and through obstacles, and even change and go in a completely different direction. This is the normal and natural process of getting from wherever you are to any long-term goal.
Review Your Goals Daily
Develop the habit of regular goal setting. As I suggested earlier, get a spiral notebook and rewrite your current goals every morning before you start out, in the present tense, as though they were already realities, This exercise programs your goals deeper and deeper into your subconscious mind, and causes all kinds of remarkable things to happen that move you toward your goals, sometimes by the most remarkable of coincidences.
The habit of daily goal setting seems to act like a turbocharger on your potential, moving you more rapidly toward your goals than you ever thought possible. When you practice this technique for thirty days, your entire life will change in a very positive way. One month from now, you will be amazed at what has happened to you.
The Ten Goal Exercise
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Here is my favorite exercise in personal strategic planning. It launches the whole process of goal setting and leads to remarkable results. Wherever I go in the world, in 24 countries, I give this exercise to my seminar participants: "Take out a sheet of paper, write down 10 goals for the next year in the present tense, and then put it away, like a Christmas wish list."
When I return to those cities and countries, I meet people who have taken this advice. They come up to me at my seminars all over the world, to tell me that this simple exercise of writing down their ten goals just once has changed their lives. They have often put the list away and not looked at it for a year. When they take it out several months or a year later, they are amazed at how many of their goals have been achieved in that time period.
Writing your goals down just once programs them into your subconscious mind and activates your superconscious faculties. Writing and rewriting them each day is even more powerful. When you write down your goals every single day, you get 10x, 20x, 50x and even 100 times the impact of writing them down one time. Your mind will be stimulated into producing incredible ideas to help you achieve them. You will activate the Law of Attraction and begin attracting people, circumstances, ideas and resources into your life that help you, in the most remarkable ways.
By the Law of Correspondence, your outer world will start to become a reflection of your inner world. Without even trying, you will begin thinking about your goals most of the time. The more you think about your goals, the faster you will move toward them, and the faster they will move toward you. Your whole life will
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change for the better. Only about three percent of adults have written goals and plans, and they seem to accomplish more than all the others put together.
Think On Paper
One of the most important habits that you can develop to increase your return on energy is the habit of thinking on paper. Always have a pen in hand when you think, plan and organize. Writing things down clarifies your thinking and crystallizes your ideas.
There is something miraculous that happens between the head and the hand. The very act of writing something down activates your visual, auditory and kinesthetic senses. You see it, you sub-vocalize it, or say it to yourself, and you physically write out the words. These three modalities in combination seem to impress what you are writing deeper and deeper into your subconscious mind. This has an evergreater impact on your thinking, feeling and behavior afterwards. All successful people think on paper. All failures do not.
Start Each Day With A List
Develop the habit of beginning each day with a list of everything you have to do that day. The very best time to make out your daily list is the night before, at the end of the working day. This allows your subconscious mind to work on your list of activities all night long while you are sleeping. Often you will wake up in the
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morning with insights and ideas, and answers to your problems, as a result of programming this list into your mind before you sent to sleep.
Develop the habit of setting clear priorities on your list before you begin work. Instead of hurling yourself at the day, like a dog chasing after a passing car, take a few minutes to organize your list. Determine the tasks and activities that will give you the highest return on energy for the amount of time you invest.
Five Questions to Keep Yourself Focused
Here are five questions that you can ask over and over again until they become a habit, guiding you to always using your time at the very highest level.
First, develop the habit of asking, "Why am I on the payroll?" What have I been hired to accomplish? What specific measurable results are expected of me at my work? If I were trying to explain to someone else why they pay me money at my job, what reasons would I give?
Most people fall into the habit of thinking that, because they are at work, they are working. They confuse activities with accomplishments. They are often busy all day doing more and more things of lesser and lesser importance. At the end of the day, they claim to be exhausted or stressed out, but they have accomplished very little. They fail to ask themselves, "Why am I on the payroll?"
Second, develop the habit of asking, "What are my highest value activities?" What are the most important things that you do each day in your work? If you were to
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If you don't do it. over and over. if you did it consistently well. or all of your other tasks put together. tasks and potential results to your boss. Most of your activities are tasks you think you need to do. What is it? Fourth. that if done well. repeatedly. in order to do the things for which you are actually paid. Million Dollar Habits – Page 207 . develop the habit of asking the question. What are the three most valuable things you do in your work? You And Only You? Third. and you do it well. Almost everything else you do is a support activity for those three tasks. you would find that there is one task that. "If I could only do one thing all day long. and only I do. what one thing do I do that contributes the greatest value to my company?" If you were to list everything that you do on a piece of paper.take a list of all of your activities. it will not be done by someone else. all day long. remember that there are usually three tasks or activities that account for 90% or more of the value that you contribute to your work or business. what would he tell you? If you are your own boss. and ask your boss to select the three most important things you do. will make a real difference?" The answer to this question is something that you and only you can do. it can make the greatest single contribution to your work and to your company at that moment. and which have the highest value. But if you do it. "What can I. develop the habit of asking this question. this one task would contribute more value than any of your other tasks.
personal effectiveness and great success. for every minute and every hour.What one task or activity. or they are not then disciplined enough to work on their key tasks exclusively until they are complete. if you could do it all day long. In its simplest terms. out of all the things they could possibly be doing at the moment. Your Highest and Best Use of Time Perhaps the most important habit you can develop in personal management is the habit of asking. Million Dollar Habits – Page 208 . maximum productivity. and becoming more skilled. right now?" There is always an answer to this question. Everything else you do is usually of lower value than these essential tasks. people succeed because they develop the habit of consistently working on the one thing that can give them the highest rate of return on energy. "What is the most valuable use of my time. at those few activities that contribute the greatest value to your work. which is the highest use of your talents and abilities. People fail because they are unable or unwilling to determine their true priorities. Your ability to accurately ask and answer this question is the key to high performance. would contribute the very most to your work and your life? How could you organize your time and your work so that you are focusing more and more on this single task? One of the most important keys to personal effectiveness is for you to develop the habit of spending more time. and life.
I promise my clients that they will learn how to double their incomes and double their time off over the course of the 12-month program. putting in 10-12 hours per day. 90 days after the first session. Brian told me to ask the key question.Double Your Income." "Brian told me to make a list of all the things that I do in my work over the course of a month. I saw that he was right. Without looking at the list. Double Your Time Off In my Advanced Coaching and Mentoring Programs. at the second session of the program. As I reviewed the list. Everything else could be delegated or outsourced to other people. I came up with 16 items. Joanne stood up and told the group her story. Recently. He then asked me to identify items number two and three. he said that those three items would account for 90% or more of all the value I contribute to my company. "Three months ago. "If you could only do one thing on your list." Million Dollar Habits – Page 209 . five and six days per week. Then. which one activity would contribute the greatest value to your company?'" I quickly identified the one thing that I do that seems to contribute the greatest value. when I first attended this program. asking the same question. But I saw no way out. I was not spending enough time with my husband and my two children and this was causing me an enormous amount of stress. I told Brian privately that I did not believe that it was possible for me to double my income and double my time off. again without looking at the list. all day long. My situation was that I have been working for an entrepreneurial business for eight years.
I told him that I needed his help to delegate. you must be continually using your creativity. I told him. I believed that I could double my productivity and my value to the company. They are the things you do that make the greatest difference around here. that if done well. I would like to be paid twice as much. Within 30 days.'" Joanne went onto say. It was an absolutely amazing process. outsource or eliminate the 13 items on my list of low value so that I could spend all my time working on the top three items. but to find ways to eliminate."The next Monday morning at 10:00 am. I sat down with my boss and I told him about the analysis I had done on my work. and I was producing more than twice as much as I ever had before. Simultaneously. will make a real difference at work.' he said. And if I was successful. If I could focus on these three tasks. down-size and outsource tasks that contribute very little to your life or work. and then I did. not to find ways to do more things." "My boss looked at the list and then looked up at me. five days per week. 'You are absolutely right. Million Dollar Habits – Page 210 . "The bottom line is that he did." Get Control of Your Time and Your Life One of the habits of personal management is for you to continually focus on those few things that only you can do. My income doubled and my time with my family doubled as well. I had cut my workweek down to 8 hours per day. and doubled my value. 'I'll help you delegate and outsource all these low-level tasks to free you up to work on your three top tasks.
Practice the ABCDE Method In setting priorities so that you can increase your return on energy. In using this method. performance and output. to the degree to which you stop doing things of low value. delegate or outsource the task to someone else so that you can focus on the few things that only you can do that will really make a valuable contribution to your work. This is the only way that you can free up more time to do those few things that really make a difference. A task for which there are very few consequences is a low priority task. develop the habit of applying the ABCDE Method to your work list each day before you begin. The measure of consequences is the Million Dollar Habits – Page 211 . A task for which there are serious potential consequences is a high priority task. and increase your productivity.The fact is that you can only get control over your time and your life. develop the habit of thinking through the possible consequences of doing or not doing a particular task. Develop the habit of continually questioning every task and asking: Does this task have to be done at all? Does this task have to be done by me? Does this task have to be done now? Is there anyone else who can do this task almost as well as I can?" Whenever possible.
it doesn't really matter if the task is done or not. A "C" task is something that would be nice to do. Identify all the "A" tasks on your list. Review your list of activities and place an ABCD or E next to each one. Completion of this task is essential to your success in your work or personal life. someone will be inconvenienced or unhappy. A-2. There are serious consequences for doing it or not doing it. and so on. Million Dollar Habits – Page 212 . In other words. You should never do a "C" task when you have a "B" task left undone. in order to free up more of your time for the few things that only you can do. An "A" task is something that you must do. A-3. A "D" task is something that you can and should delegate to others. to you or anyone else. A "B" task is something that you should do. It needs to be done at some time. organize them by priority as A-1. later or not at all. but there are only mild consequences for completion or non-completion. The rule is that you should develop the habit of delegating everything that can possibly be done by others. If you do not do this task.key determinant of whether or not it is something that you should do now. If you have more than one "A" task. just as you should never do a "B" task if you have an "A" task undone. The rule is that you should never do a "B" task when an "A" task is still left undone. but which has no consequences at all.
An "E" task is something that you can and should eliminate as quickly as possible. first discovered by Vilfredo Pareto in 1895. two of those items will be worth all the others put together. and in what order. 20% of your customers will buy 80% of your products or services. Nowhere is this ability more important than when you use it to choose and decide what you are going to do. Make a habit of applying the 80/20 Rule to every part of your business and Million Dollar Habits – Page 213 . Your most powerful tool for success is your ability to think. Practice the Pareto Principle Develop the habit of applying the 80/20 Rule to everything you do. In any list of ten items. 20% of your products or services will account for 80% of your profits. This rule also means that 20% of your customers will account for 80% of your problems and expenses. says that 80% of the value of what you do will be determined by 20% of your activities in that area. And you are always free to choose. This means that 20% of your prospects will turn into 80% of your customers. You can only get control over your time to the degree to which you eliminate everything of low value and no value so that you can focus on just those things that really make a difference in your life and work. as well. This rule. The accuracy of your choices in deciding how you are going to spend your time and your life largely determines everything that happens to you.
until it is done. your brain releases a hormone called a BetaMillion Dollar Habits – Page 214 . Each time you complete an important task. But highly productive people allocate their times based on the value of each task or activity. I explain a proven. and stay with it. begin on that task and work on it singlemindedly until it is complete. Most people allocate their time across the number of items they have to do. You also become what you say to yourself most of the time. you repeat to yourself. the words "Do it now! Do it now! Do it now!" These words seem to get you refocused and stimulate you back into working on your key task. but which take the same amount of time. The more you discipline yourself to concentrate single mindedly on your most important task. which has become a worldwide best seller. You should do the same. firmly and emphatically. In my book. One of the principles I teach is based on the fact that you become what you think about most of the time. Keep focused on doing the 20% of items or tasks that are worth several times the value of the other tasks. select your most important task. practical process you can learn to organize your time and your life. Eat That Frog! . Overcome Procrastination One of the most important personal management habits you can develop is the habit of overcoming procrastination and getting your most important job done first. Whenever you find yourself procrastinating.personal life. the more energy you have.
Each task has three parts: first. is one of the most powerful habits you can develop for personal productivity. Each time you stop and start a task without completing it. Getting the Job Done Completely Developing the habit of starting on your most important task and staying with it until it is 100% complete is a great time saver." Each time your brain releases endorphins. exhilarated. Not only will you get more done. motivated. This is often referred to as nature's "happy drug. you wind down and put things away. you warm up and get ready. second. creative and confident. Stretching out a task and working on it piecemeal is a great time waster. and third.endorphin. you get an endorphin rush. whatever they are. the most important thing. you have to go through a warm up and a warm down period that eventually leads to your spending as much as 500% of the necessary time to do the task if you were to stay with it until completion. Develop the habit of disciplining yourself to complete your tasks. you feel happy. positive and enthusiastic. Single minded concentration on one thing. but task completion gives you the motivation and energy you need to accomplish even more. Million Dollar Habits – Page 215 . which stimulates and motivates you into doing even more. Endorphins make you feel more positive. Let me explain. you work on the task. Each time you complete an important task. as well.
When you start work." Make sure that. Move more rapidly from place to place and from task to task. Second. First.The Personal Productivity Formula There is a productivity formula. Remember. Third. like a recipe. work a little harder and stay a little later. Work all the time you work. Otherwise. as I mentioned earlier in this book. The Law of the Excluded Alternative says that "doing one thing means not doing something else. as we have discussed throughout this chapter. Get busy and stay busy all day long. don't fool around. develop the habit of doing more important things. Pick up the pace. whatever you are doing at the moment is the most important thing you can be doing. Start a little earlier. This habit alone can increase your productivity 50% to 100% from the first day. you will end up putting more important tasks aside. a bias for action. Become known as the person who gets things done quickly rather than a person who gets things done when he or she gets around to them. Develop a sense of urgency. that you can learn and practice until it becomes automatic and easy. you can double your productivity. Million Dollar Habits – Page 216 . every single thing you do has a value that makes it more or less important than every other thing you do. develop the habit of working faster and getting the job done quickly. When you develop the habit of thinking in terms of these seven key ways to increase your output. performance and results in no time at all. Here it is. develop the habit of working longer and harder than other people.
five days a week. I wrote and rewrote advertising copy eight to ten hours every day. I went to the public library and checked out every book they had on the subject. As Benjamin Tregoe once wrote. I can write advertising copy that is clear. spending too much time doing a good job on something of low priority or value can actually damage your career because it keeps you from working on something that really matters.The sad fact is that. under the close supervision of a senior copywriter. long into the night. impactful and effective as quickly and as easily as the average person can change the television with a remote control. that you have developed throughout your career. I was a copywriter for a large advertising agency. You make fewer mistakes and therefore save an enormous amount of time in going back and making corrections. Million Dollar Habits – Page 217 . develop the habit of working on those things you are better at. that enable you to do certain things quickly and well. even if you do an unimportant task extraordinarily well." Do More of The Things You Do Best Fourth. and practiced writing advertising copy hour after hour. the better you get at those tasks and activities. "The very worst use of time is to do well what need not be done at all. Today. it will have no impact on your career. The more time you spend doing things you are better at. Earlier in my career. In fact. and the more of them that you get done in a shorter period of time. When I decided to get into copywriting. There are special talents and skills that you have. When I got finally a job in the field. I read. studied.
Clear up all your correspondence. by the time you get to the tenth task. the faster you will complete each subsequent task. one after the other. Million Dollar Habits – Page 218 . at a lower level of quality. Take advantage of the learning curve. Bunching your tasks is a powerful personal productivity habit. the more similar tasks you do. For example. I can write excellent copy for our advertisements and brochures faster than anyone else. Write all your reports at once. one after the other. Write all of your business proposals at once. Efficiency experts calculate that if you have ten similar tasks to do. This principle says that. and at the same or higher level of quality. What tasks are you the very best at doing in your work? How could you organize your work so that you are doing more and more of them at a higher level? Use the Learning Curve Fifth. and you do them all at once.In my company. dictate all of your letters at once. you will be working so efficiently that it will be taking you only 20% of the time that it took you to do the first item on the list. or assemble all of your expenses at the same time. Do all your telephone prospecting at the same time. The same work might take other people many hours to do. develop the habit of bunching your tasks.
performance and output in typing by 1000%. You will have opened up the entire world of the Internet to you by the development of a single skill. What one skill could you develop that could help you to use more of your other skills at a higher level? If you could be absolutely excellent in any single skill. and within 90 days you will be touch-typing at 50 to 80 words per minute." You will type with two fingers. Sometimes. you will use the "hunt and peck method. You will have increased your productivity. which is learnable by anyone. However. This is one of the most effective time management principles of all. practice 20 to 30 minutes each day. improving in one essential skill can have a multiplier effect. if you do not know how to type with a keyboard. starting today. you will only be able to type five to eight words per minute. if you decide to learn to touch-type. to develop that skill? Whatever it is. set Million Dollar Habits – Page 219 . The better you become at what you do.Commit to Continuous Personal Improvement Sixth. and no matter how long you work at the keyboard. increasing your productivity and performance in many other areas of your work. For example. you could get any one of several popular touch-typing computer programs. which one skill would have the greatest positive impact on your career and your income? What can you do. the more of it you can get done in a shorter period of time. develop the habit of continuously improving and getting better at your key tasks.
but can lead to tremendous savings of time later on. As a result. Million Dollar Habits – Page 220 . make a plan and then work on improving yourself in that area every day until you have mastered the skill and made it part of your personal skill set. people were demoralized and the company was floundering in the marketplace. you should develop the habit of preparing thoroughly for every meeting and interview. Sometimes. the element of preparation is the critical factor that enables you to impress everyone present. As it turned out. both inside your company and with people on the outside. Thorough preparation takes a little time at the beginning. Juries always know when the lawyer is thoroughly prepared. taking little or no input from the other executives present. and to increase your return on the investment of your time.it as a goal. The Value of Preparation Some time ago. I was asked by the executive vice president of a large company to attend the annual business meeting and lead the group through a strategic planning exercise. Proper Prior Preparation To get the most out of yourself and your life. Make it a habit to do your homework and get all of your ducks in a row prior to any meeting of importance or significance. Prospective employers always know when the applicant is thoroughly prepared. and achieve great success. this company had a very head strong and dominating president who took over every discussion of strategy and dominated it. Customers always know when a salesperson is thoroughly prepared.
I sat down and spent 12 solid hours reading. having taken the time to memorize the names and their backgrounds prior to the meeting.I was to be introduced as a "surprise" to the president and the team of senior executives. the consequences for the company could be serious. The Moment of Truth I stood up and thanked them for inviting me. When the meeting began. I was intimately familiar with the work of both of these management experts. and then back to me. If I was not successful. I therefore asked them to send me the outlines and agendas from their previous executive committee meetings. everyone took his or her places around a large U shaped table. I looked right at the Million Dollar Habits – Page 221 . I noticed that the president was continually quoting Peter Drucker and Tom Peters to make his points. I addressed each of the key executives by name. Finally. The amount of information was almost overwhelming. I told them that I had carefully studied the notes of their proceedings and discussions for the previous year. The executive vice president who had brought me in stood up and introduced me and told everyone. I was determined to do a good job. The room was full of tension. Everyone looked at each other and at the president. I received about 200 pages of notes and observations that had been typed up and distributed over the previous year. Nonetheless. that he had invited me in to facilitate the discussion. reviewing and taking notes from the discussions that had taken place in the past. including the president. As it happened.
meeting or strategic planning session. He sat back down in his chair and said. seminar. There was silence in the room while everyone waited for the president to react. a couple of the executives came up to me and said. The tension and stress that had been disrupting the group disappeared. I then quickly mentioned several books from each writer that I had read and studied thoroughly." The outcome of that session. who was standing up now. Everyone became happy and relaxed. I remind myself of that experience. Afterwards. No Such Word Not long ago. he turned over a box full of materials to me and said. We accomplished an enormous amount and achieved tremendous success in formulating a new strategic plan. ready to intervene and told him "I have always been a big fan of Peter Drucker and Tom Peters. Whenever I think of the amount of time and effort that is necessary to prepare for any speech.president. "You probably saved this company. The entire group became highly cohesive and productive." The president stopped where he stood and looked at me with amazement. I was preparing to give testimony in a large lawsuit in Los Angeles. At the end. was very productive. and subsequent sessions. I met with the senior trial lawyer for several hours." Preparation was the key." Million Dollar Habits – Page 222 . "Great! You take over the meeting. "I hope you will have a chance to read through this material before you testify.
It often wins you great business and personal victories that change the whole direction of your life. In that one case alone. They are admired and respected by others. They are considered to be more valuable and more competent than others simply as the result of habitual punctuality. Be On Time Every Time Another important habit for you to develop is the habit of punctuality. Opportunities open up for them. In fact. And everybody knows who they are. They stand out. "I do not believe there is such a word. he went on to save his client more than $300 million dollars as the result of his commitment to not only preparing." You should do the same. Less than five percent of people are punctual every single time. It gives you a psychological edge that enables you to perform at your best. and said. The wonderful advantage of developing the habit of thorough preparation. but to "over preparing." I learned later that he was one of the most skilled and highest paid lawyers in the United States.I replied." He looked me straight in the eye and smiled. "I always believe in preparing thoroughly for every important meeting. I believe in over preparing. Million Dollar Habits – Page 223 . is that it gives you a tremendous sense of confidence and competence when you go in. and doing your homework prior to every meeting.
Determine Your Limiting Factor An important key to personal productivity is for you to develop the habit of determining the constraint that sets the speed on the achievement of a particular goal in any area of your life. personal. Remember. or health goal. if the bus was leaving at 10:00am." Don't try to change your whole life at one time. one meeting or event after another until it begins to become automatic and easy. when he took over the Green Bay Packers. This only had to happen once for the players to get the message. Do this. anything that you do repeatedly. Begin by identifying a goal that you want to achieve. one day at a time. If they weren't. From that day forward. Resolve that. until it locks in and becomes permanent. In no time at all. I am going to be punctual for every meeting. over and over. Other aspects of your life will seem to change and improve at the same time." Focus on changing one behavior at a time. This can be a financial. He therefore initiated what he called "Lombardi Time. the bus left without them. You then ask. Then. you will have developed the habit of punctuality. everyone was expected to be on the bus by 9:45 am. With punctuality. Live in what Dale Carnegie called "water tight compartments. found that the players often arrived at the bus after the scheduled time of departure. "What factor sets the speed at which I achieve this goal?" Million Dollar Habits – Page 224 ." This was 15 minutes before the scheduled time.Vince Lombardi. soon becomes a new habit. resolve to be punctual to your very next appointment or meeting. "Just for today. resolve to be punctual for the next meeting as well.
focus all your creativity and energy on alleviating this constraint. Focus on organizing your time and activities so that you increase the number of people that you see each business day. Million Dollar Habits – Page 225 . or of your entire enterprise. By applying the four marketing principles we discussed earlier. you could identify prospects who have a far higher likelihood of buying sooner than other prospects. In your business. but the quality of each of those prospects. If this were the answer. Jim Collins. if you want to increase your sales. Perhaps the critical constraint on increasing your sales revolves around your ability to make an effective sales presentation and to get the customer to take action. This is the critical number that determines the success or failure of a particular activity. the solution would be for you to focus your creativity and energy on upgrading your sales skills.For example. Perhaps it is your basic sales skills that are at issue. in his book Good To Great. your limiting factor in increasing your sales might not be the number of prospects that you speak to. If this is your key constraint. your goal can be the attainment of a particular financial result. the constraint or bottleneck on increasing your sales could be the number of prospects that you talk to each day. points out how important it is for you to identify the correct "economic denominator" in your business. rather than frantically flailing around to get in front of more people. What sets the speed at which you achieve it? It is essential that you identify the correct constraint before you focus on alleviating it. For example.
the critical constraint in business growth for a restaurant. It is not the amount of food or drink that each person consumes. No matter how artful the marketing or how polite the waiter. is how often customers return to the restaurant in the course of the year. Ask yourself. By using this strategy. and for many other businesses. they were able to double and triple the sales and profitability of their restaurants without the expensive advertising that would be necessary to attract new diners to the restaurant in the first place. You will find that fully 80% of the constraints or limitations that are holding you back Million Dollar Habits – Page 226 . "What are the factors that determine how rapidly I achieve my most important goals?" The 80/20 Rule seems to apply to the subject of constraints in a special way. This is largely fixed. One of my restaurant clients found that the average guest was visiting the restaurant every two months.Doubling the Number of Purchases The best restaurants have identified the critical constraint to business growth. They then designed a program of customer service and satisfaction that was so effective that people began visiting the restaurant more often. Instead. then every four weeks. Look Into Yourself Look at your own life and work. rather than new business. people are not going to eat or drink much more than they already do. Repeat business was the key to greater success. First they came an average of every six weeks.
The great change for me came when I realized that time management was the sun of my life. At that time. set a goal to overcome the limitation. Ask this question. I had the idea that my life was like the sun and time management was like one of the planets that orbited around my life. Develop the habit of looking into yourself for the solutions to your problems. beliefs. "When a man's fight begins with himself." Change Your Thinking About Time When I was a young man. or develop the habit. and then take action on it every day until you are successful. or lack of a particular skill or quality. and everything else that happens to me are like planets that are in orbit around the way I use my time. I would read an occasional book or article on time management. then he is really worth something. Make it a habit to listen to audio programs on time management and to use a good time planner or Million Dollar Habits – Page 227 . identify it clearly. "If you improve the quality of your time management. Only 20% of your constraints are external to you or to your business. "What is it in me that is holding me back from achieving this goal?" What could it be? Whatever it is. not in the world around you." Make it a habit to read in time management on a regular basis. you improve the quality of your life. This insight had a profound influence on my life and work. The rule is that. fears. As the Roman philosopher Herodotus wrote. They are contained on your own attitudes.from achieving your goal are within yourself.
triple and even increase your productivity. When you develop a set of time and personal management habits that become automatic and easy for you. Action Exercises: 1. You will put your career onto the fast track in life. performance. Overcome procrastination by starting in first thing on your most important and valuable task. this programs them into your subconscious mind. from morning to night. in a spiral notebook. will have an immediate positive effect on your life. 3. Make it a habit to attend at least one time management program or seminar each year. 2. Great success in whatever field you choose is simply a matter of developing the habits that are consistent with the achievement of extraordinary results. Million Dollar Habits – Page 228 . Every single method. Plan each day in advance. using the 80/20 Rule. you will double. Begin each day by rewriting your goals. apply. The fact is that you cannot become "too good" at time management. or both. at a higher and higher level. by making a list of everything you have to do. output and income by five and ten times. and develop into a habit. in less and less time. 4. You will get more and more done. technique or strategy that you learn.palm pilot. Organize your daily work list by priority. in the present tense. and earn more and more money. or the ABCDE Method. preferably the night before. And all habits are learnable.
order and diligence. 6. and to complete every task before the promised deadline. "I could never have done what I have done without the habits of punctuality."(Charles Dickens) Million Dollar Habits – Page 229 . Prepare thoroughly for every important meeting. Resolve to be punctual for every appointment.5. 7. without the determination to concentrate myself on one subject at a time. do your homework in advance so that you are always ready for anything that happens. disciplining yourself to work at it nonstop until it is complete. Practice single handling on each task.
You cannot make other people happy if you are unhappy yourself. You Can Only Give Away Something You Have Often. our happiness always seems to take precedence over that of anyone else's.Chapter Ten The Habits for Getting Along Well With Others "For true love is inexhaustible: the more you give. the more you have." (Antoine de Saint-Exupery) Fully 85% of your happiness in life is going to come from your relationships with other people. automatic and instinctive way. "You cannot give away what you don't have. Each person is intensely focused on doing the things that make him or her happy." We live within the context of the people in our lives. How well we get along with them. If you do not place your own happiness as the central organizing principle of your own life. unhappy people say that they are sacrificing their own happiness so that they can make others happy. the more abundant is its flow. and they with us. Your most important goal in life is to assure your own happiness. As Aristotle said. And if you go to draw at the true fountainhead. As much as we care about the happiness of others." Million Dollar Habits – Page 230 . But the rule is that. the more water you draw. in a natural. no one else will do it for you. largely determines the quality of everything that happens to us. "Human beings are social creatures.
People decide emotionally and then justify logically. Sometimes I ask my audiences. But emotion comes first. begin by improving the quality of your own inner life. In putting people first. Million Dollar Habits – Page 231 . "What percentage of the time are people emotional. If you want happy employees and coworkers. "Open Sesame!" At that sound. Everything you do or fail to do can be judged against this standard. there was the story of a treasure cave that could only be opened if the person said the magic words." Making others feel important satisfies the deepest subconscious cravings of human nature. Does it make people feel more important or less important? That is the question. But the true answer is that people are 100% emotional. and what percentage of the time are people logical?" They respond with various answers and proportions. be a happy boss and colleague. If you want to have happy customers. "Everything counts!" Everything that happens in your life affects you emotionally in some way. With regard to your emotions. the rule is once more that. Make Others Feel Important In one of the 1001 Tales of the Arabian Nights. the "Open Sesame!" of human relationships is to "make others feel important. be a happy parent.If you want to have happy children. If you want to improve the quality of the life of anyone else. the vast wall would move aside and unlimited treasures would be revealed and available to the person who had uttered the magic words. be a happy salesperson.
These negative habit patterns then become the root causes of all of our other fears. we talked about the fact that infants come into the world with no fears at all. when they use a combination of destructive criticism and disapproval to manipulate and control our behaviors. Because our minds and emotions are largely unformed at an early age. They are completely unafraid and spontaneous. Very early in life. When they punish us. physical punishment. loving or angry. we are easily susceptible to the negative influences of the important people in our lives. primarily as the result of destructive criticism. ridicule. Fearless and Spontaneous In Chapter One. Almost every fear that a person has as an adult is taught to them as a child. doubts and misgivings. embarrassment. we lose our fearlessness and spontaneity and instead conform to what we think they want so we will be safe. We interpret this treatment as the withdrawal of love. motivated or de-motivated. Since this loss of love is so traumatic for us. fearful or confident. we begin to develop the fears of failure and criticism. we accept their statements as true and valid assessments of the persons we really are Million Dollar Habits – Page 232 .Everything that affects you makes you happy or sad. criticize us or say negative things to us or about us. Our parents start the core fears that affect us throughout our lives. ill health and death. loss. those of failure. Nothing is neutral. or the withholding of love.
fears and misgivings that are rooted in early childhood experience. we continue to have doubts. Almost any negative experience can trigger the old negative emotions. their lives. never really disappearing. They will want to hire you and promote you.inside. like habits that have slipped into our subconscious minds. their work and families. we feel positive toward the person who is saying and doing the things that make us feel better about ourselves. all kinds of doors will open up for you. we are positively affected by people who say and do things that make us feel important and valuable. Your job is to become a "relationship expert" by developing the habits of speaking and acting that make people feel important and valuable. People will like you and respect you and want to be around you. No matter how much we accomplish later on in life. we are l subject to those negative habit patterns that were programmed into us when we were young. We have no ability to discriminate. When you develop the habit of doing and saying the things that cause people to feel good about themselves. Everything that a person does or says that raises our self-esteem and feelings of personal value causes us to like and respect ourselves more. As a result. because we are primarily emotional. makes us feel happier about ourselves. and Million Dollar Habits – Page 233 . question or reject their words and their treatment of us. As adults. Become A Relationship Expert On the other hand. You will be welcomed everywhere you go.
work for you and buy from you. As it happens. This is why negative people always seem to be angry and unhappy. They will accept your influence and leadership and give you power and position in your work and in your community. the reverse is also true. Everything that you do or say that hurts another person. you feel motivated." Million Dollar Habits – Page 234 . They are ineffective in their human relations and usually poor at their work. "Everything you do or say that causes another person to feel better in any way also causes you to feel better to the same degree. makes them feel less important." When you motivate. which is the one principle that all religions have in common. Everything you do to raise the self-esteem of others raises your self-esteem as well. says. encouraged and inspired yourself. They have negative self-images. also has the same effect on you. or lowers their self-esteem. Everything that they do or say that hurts another person in any way also hurts themselves. The good news is that. Practice The Golden Rule The starting point of becoming a relationship expert is to develop the habit of practicing the golden rule in everything you do. They are frustrated and difficult to get along with. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. encourage or inspire someone else. and with everyone you meet. The golden rule. They suffer from low self-esteem.
the world would transform overnight. corruption and all forms of behaviors that can only exist as long as the vast majority do not engage in them. "What kind of a country would my country be. you begin to transform your life." This principle is so simple." He said "Live your life as though your every act were to become a universal law for all people. and the inability to answer it with. When you set this kind of standard for yourself. "Do not do unto others what is hateful to yourself. drug addiction. alcoholism. if everybody in it was just like me?" The failure to ask this question. that if everyone were to apply it. "What kind of a world would this world be. "This world would be a better place" is the cause of most of our problems in the world today. The second question you can ask is.In Buddhism it says." In other words. if everyone in it were just like me?" If everyone could answer that this country would be a better place to live if others lived the same way they did. The first question is. Four Great Questions There are four great questions that you can ask and answer on a regular basis to keep yourself growing and developing toward becoming an excellent person. You immediately become a better person. we could quickly eliminate crime. The Dutch philosopher Emmanuel Kant once propounded what he called the "Universal Maxim. yet so powerful. imagine that everyone was going to do and say the very things that you were doing and saying at that moment. welfare. Million Dollar Habits – Page 235 .
what could you change immediately to begin becoming the very best person you could possibly be? The fourth question is. The first is for you to develop the habit of acceptance. Every day. you will find yourself treating the people in your family better and better. If not." Each person has a deep subconscious need to be accepted unconditionally and without reservations by other people. "What kind of a family would my family be. if everyone in it was just like me?" If everyone in your family treated everyone else exactly the way that you treat the people in your family. As children. "What kind of a company would my company be if everyone in it was just like me?" If the executives at the hearts of the corporate accounting scandals had asked and answered this question on a regular basis. Five Great Habits For Better Relationships There are five habits that you can develop to assure wonderful human relationships. "unconditional positive regard. As you improve the quality of your family life. our parents often manipulate us Million Dollar Habits – Page 236 . the problems in their corporations would never have occurred. both at home and at work. you should ask and answer this question about yourself and your work habits to see if you can answer in the affirmative. would your family be a happier. or not. or what is called in psychology. healthier and more loving place in which to live and grow? When you ask this question of yourself continually.The third question is. your relationships at work will improve as well.
It is therefore much easier to smile. we will do almost anything to earn the acceptance of our playmates and peers. "He likes me just the way I am. or not to lose it.by offering or withholding love and acceptance. without comment. In the movie. just as he or she is. and even strangers. This conditions us to be extremely sensitive to the opinions and treatment of others toward us as we grow up. the opposite of acceptance is rejection. unconditionally accept the others. Your job is to make a habit of going through life expressing unconditional acceptance toward others. When you completely and unconditionally accept another person. The feeling of not being accepted by others triggers a series of negative emotions. and much more effective. the acceptance of the important people around us. none of them had ever met anyone who felt that way. Each time you smile. Bridget Jones Diary. with no reservations. This will make you welcome wherever you go. The very best romances. can become so important to us that will do whatever it takes. her friends are all amazed when she describes another man by saying. As adults. The simplest way to express acceptance of another person is simply to smile each time you see him or her. It takes 13 muscles to smile and 111 muscles to frown. criticism or any suggestion that he or she needs to change in any way. especially the parents and spouses. in order not to trigger their disapproval." Apparently. Remember. and even give up our individuality. As children and teenagers. fears. Million Dollar Habits – Page 237 . you raise their self-esteem and release more of their innate potential for happiness and self-expression. marriages and parenting experiences are situations where each person in the relationship. doubts and feelings of inadequacy.
as most people do. Instead of complaining and criticizing. the more that they will increase and expand." Develop the habit of saying thank you to everyone for anything that they do for which any thanks at all are warranted. that you have health and well-being. you release endorphins in your own brain. which make you feel happier as well. Make a habit of practicing unconditional acceptance with everyone you meet. under all conditions.you raise the self-esteem of the person that you are smiling at. and a great county to live in. Thank your spouse for making breakfast and thank your kids for doing their homework. Develop An Attitude of Gratitude The second habit you need to develop to become a relationship expert is the habit of appreciation. you should focus on what makes you happy. One of the most powerful ways of thinking you can develop is an "attitude of gratitude. You will be amazed at the positive effect you have on the people around you." The more appreciative and thankful you are of the good things in your life. and express your gratitude on every occasion. Begin each day by appreciating the fact that you are alive. The two words that most express an attitude of gratitude are the words "Thank you. Give thanks for the fact that you have a job. that you have family and friends. In addition. Thank your boss whenever he says or does anything friendly or helpful. Wave and thank people for letting you cut into line in traffic. opportunities for the future. Thank people in restaurants Million Dollar Habits – Page 238 . and thank your staff for their work.
Your self-esteem goes up in equal measure. their self-esteem goes up." you feel happier and more positive yourself. compliment them on their home in general and on the different rooms. or for any quality they have demonstrated. Compliment them for their achievements. They feel more valuable and important." Make it a habit to admire the traits. qualities or possessions of other people. Compliment them on their car or clothes or briefcase. Every time you say thank you. As Abraham Lincoln wrote "Everybody likes a compliment. Admire their children and spouses. and raise the self-esteem of another. "You certainly are fast today!" Whenever you compliment a person for anything. They feel happier. Everybody Likes A Compliment The third habit you can develop is the habit of admiration. especially their appearance or an article of their clothing.and on telephone calls. Compliment them when they are punctual. their self-esteem goes up. Make it a habit to generate a force field of thankful energy that goes before you wherever you go. And as a result of the "boomerang effect. Admire people's accomplishments such as their degrees or diplomas. When you go to people's homes. your self-esteem goes up as well. furniture and decorations. Every time you thank a person for anything that they have done or said. Million Dollar Habits – Page 239 . Admire their offices and their businesses. Compliment the waiter when he or she serves you quickly.
Praise them for doing their homework. whenever and wherever it can be given. to feel valuable and respected by others. My friend Ken Blanchard recommends that you go around your office giving "One Minute Praisings.Build the Self Esteem of Others The fourth way that you can make others feel important is by developing the habit of giving praise and approval. their self-esteem goes up. and which you want to see repeated. In fact. This satisfies another of the deepest needs of each person. Praise your children for cleaning up their bedrooms. Make it a habit to always praise and approve of other people when they do something that is positive or desirable. or at a staff meeting. Whatever you praise and approve." In motivational psychology. The more you Million Dollar Habits – Page 240 ." What is even more effective in making someone feel important is to praise the person in front of someone else. you get more of. Praise them for getting good grades. Praise your spouse for anything he or she does around the house. When you praise another person. They are then motivated to repeat whatever it was they did that caused them to earn your praise in the first place. This "positive reinforcement" is a powerful and proven way to motivate and manage people. one of the definitions of self-esteem is "the degree to which a person feels himself to be praise-worthy. praising someone regularly for a positive behavior develops in him or her the habit of engaging in that behavior.
Second. Third.praise people in front of others for something they have accomplished. The Rules For Praising Others The basic rules for giving praise effectively are these: first. Explain exactly what it is that you approve of. go out of your way to praise them and thank them for their punctuality. Each time that they arrive punctually. praise specifically. or before the designated work time. Often they will remember a public praising for years. right after the person engages in the praise-worthy behavior. For example. At the same time. The more specific the praise. The faster the praise or positive feedback. the greater impact it has on the person's self-esteem and subsequent behavior in that area. ignore their behavior when they come in late. This sets up a carrot and stick dynamic that eventually leads to them coming in punctually all the time. if you have an employee who comes in late. the better the person feels. This is essential for helping a person to develop a new habit of some kind. each time he or she does what you want them to do. Million Dollar Habits – Page 241 . praise immediately. praise them when they come in on time. the greater impact it has on their self-esteem and feelings of personal value. praise repeatedly. and the greater effect it has in shaping future behavior.
Second. Third. begin immediately by practicing intense listening when people talk to you. The Magic Of Listening The fifth habit you need to be a relationship expert is the habit of paying attention to people when they talk. They usually have several things on their mind at the same time. This leads to confusion. There are several steps you can follow to develop the habit of excellent listening. never allow an exception until people begin to compliment you on what a good listener you are.Once a person has developed a new habit. First. positive habit and then praise intermittently to keep the behavior in place. as the result of regular praise and reinforcement. arguments. As a result." This means that you only need to praise the person now and then for the behavior to keep it in force. Million Dollar Habits – Page 242 . As it happens. accusations and inefficiencies. they do not hear the other person clearly and often misunderstand and mis-remember the content of the discussion. So. most people are poor listeners. you can then move to "intermittent reinforcement. make a decision to develop the habit of being an excellent listener. Listening is a discipline that you can learn with practice. praise repeatedly to help the person develop a new. and are paying attention to several different subjects while someone else is talking to them. You need to develop the habit of being a good listener.
Four Keys to Effective Listening There are four keys to effective listening. Imagine that listening to this person is the most Million Dollar Habits – Page 243 . move away from your desk and sit with the person where you can face them directly with no interruptions or anything in the way. their self-esteem goes up. As a result. Imagine that your eyes are sunlamps and you want to give the other person's face a tan. "Rapt attention is the highest form of flattery. They feel more important and more valuable. put down all paper. make a habit of turning off the television. You can read every book and article. Lean forward." Whenever a person is intensely listened to by another. Turn and face them directly. One of the ways to listen more attentively is to eliminate all distractions when a person wants to talk to you. have your secretary hold your calls and eliminate all distractions. Lean forward. folding up the newspaper and putting aside anything that could draw your attention away while the other person is speaking. They feel happy inside. Focus intently on the mouth and eyes of the person who is speaking. Here they are: First. If you are at home and a member of your family wants to talk to you. but they will all boil down to the four keys behaviors of an excellent listener. listen attentively. If you are in your office. If possible. listen to every audio program and take every course on the subject. Listen without interruptions. It has been said that. they feel better toward the person who is making them feel this way by listening to them so attentively.
Their words. when you pause after a person finishes speaking. where the listener immediately jumps in with his own comment or observation. like water soaking into the earth. Allow a silence in the conversation. First. Eventually this will become a habit. and most important. soak deeper into your mind and you actually understand what they really mean with greater clarity. This habit of pausing before speaking has three advantages. it is clear that he was not really listening at all. you demonstrate clearly to the other person that what he has just said is important and you are giving it careful consideration before replying.important thing that you could possibly do all day long. Second. or even longer. Instead of jumping in with your own comments when the other person takes a breath. you actually hear them at a deeper level of mind. when you pause. Third. Million Dollar Habits – Page 244 . Pause Before Replying The second key to effective listening is for you to develop the habit of pausing before replying. On the other hand. you avoid the possibility of interrupting the other person if he is just stopping to gather his thoughts before continuing. He was just waiting for his chance to talk. pause for three to five seconds.
the more the other person trusts you. Instead. pause and then ask.Never Assume Understanding The third key to excellent listening is for you to develop the habit of questioning for clarification. You understand even better. exactly?" you get an opportunity to listen even more. believes you and is open to your influence. "Listening builds trust. "How do you mean?" or "How do you mean. The very best way for you to build high quality relationships with other people is to ask them good questions and then listen attentively to the answers. Pause before Million Dollar Habits – Page 245 . you take control of the conversation." The more that you ask good questions and listen closely to the answers. The rule in conversation is that. Never assume that you understand fully what the other person really means by what they have said. When you ask the question. You maintain control of the conversation in a very gentle and professional way. "How do you mean?" This is my favorite question for making sure that I thoroughly understand exactly what the person is saying and what message they are trying to convey. The person who is asking the questions controls the person who is answering the questions. "How do you mean?" Here is an important rule: "The person who asks questions has control." When you ask questions in a conversation. especially if there is any chance of misunderstanding.
You would reflect this back by saying. The second form of listening is called "reflective listening." This is where you merely act as a sounding board. then collecting their fee and scheduling the next visit. "Why do you say that? How do you feel about that? How do you mean?" And so on. Many psychotherapists make an entire career of sitting quietly while the patient talks non-stop for fifty minutes. . listens and accepts. without commenting or giving advice. Say something like. "Let me be sure I understand what you are saying . . making no effort to comment or give advice. Feed it back in your own words. what people need more than anything else is an opportunity to talk out their problems or situation with another person who merely nods. Question for clarification. Seek intently to understand the other person and how he or she is thinking and feeling before you comment yourself. The first is called "listening to help." This is where you continually paraphrase and feed back the person's thoughts in a new or different way. You encourage the person to talk and you ask questions that help her to expand her thinking." Million Dollar Habits – Page 246 . "it seems that when your boss argues with you it really affects your self-esteem. For example. Feed It Back In Your Own Words The fourth key to effective listening is to develop the habit of paraphrasing what the person has said before you reply.replying." There are two types of listening that are very powerful in building high quality relationships. the person can be complaining about an argument with his or her boss. Sometimes.
relationships are everything. it is very easy for your life to get out of balance. what you do and everything you become. your skillful use of the practice of listening causes people to like and respect you more. Deciding What's Truly Important One of the questions we ask in our seminars is. Million Dollar Habits – Page 247 . Most of us determine our place and position in life in relationship to the people around us. As a result. They would spend every possible minute with the most important people in their lives. Your relationships form a core part of your identify. Develop the habit of putting the people in your family ahead of all other considerations. how would you spend your time. It is quite common for people to start spending more and more time at work and less time with the members of their family or the people in their key relationships. if you learned today that you only had six months left to live?" Virtually everyone in our courses over the years has no trouble answering that question. "What would you do. The fact is that. In our busy. Good listeners are welcome wherever they go. All financial or material considerations would disappear and only their most important relationships would have any value to them. bustling world of commerce and activity today. They have an inordinate impact on who you are. advice and influence. they are much more open to your input.In both cases.
Daddy can't get all of his work done at work. you have to understand.Maintain Balance Between Life and Work To be truly happy. There is the story of the little girl who goes to her mother and says. "Honey. If you are spending more than 10% of your time Million Dollar Habits – Page 248 . put your head down and work the entire time throughout the day. Start earlier." The reason that most people feel that they are under so much pressure from their work is because they waste most of the working day. so he has to bring it home in the evenings. But unfortunately. "Mommy. and often it has to go home and get done in the evenings and on the weekends. the work does not go away. It still has to be done sometime. even if you waste time. you must make a habit of maintaining balance between your work and your personal life." The little girl looks up at her mother and says. The first step in achieving this balance is for you to resolve to "work all the time you work. "If he can't get all his work done. why is it that daddy brings a briefcase full of work home every night and never spends time with the family anymore?" The mother tries to explain. why don't they put him in a slower class?" Maintain Your Priorities Work all the time you work.
like starting an engine. and it doesn't cost a cent. there will never be any talk about the family or other matters. leave things off. When you go home at night. Instead. The most important part of personal relationships is face-to-face contact and communication. "Back to work! Back to work! Back to work!" When you go home. you will end up talking about your work throughout the entire evening. Keep repeating to yourself. If you are not careful. Your goal should be to increase the amount of face-to-face communication time you have with your spouse and children each day. Instead. resist the temptation to turn on the television and fight for the remote control. resolve to be there with your family 100% of the time.interacting with your coworkers. Leave the television off. Leave the radio off. you will slip into the habit of talking about your work as soon as you get home. This will improve your family life more than anything else you can do. spend the first hour when you get home building the bridges of communication between yourself and the most important people in your life. Nothing can replace this. Create Quality Time With Your Family The rule is that spouses should spend at least one full hour each day talking together about subjects that have nothing to do with their work or business. Leave the computer off. Turn off your cell phone and your pager. As a result. Million Dollar Habits – Page 249 . it is too much. Once you begin.
Children need at least 10 minutes of face-to-face contact with their parents each day. The value of any relationship is determined by the amount of time that you invest in that person. We never allow the radio or CD player to be on when we are driving together. This is one of your prime jobs. Create Chunks of Quality Time Develop the habit of creating chunks of time to spend with the members of your family. Take the time to sit and talk with them. if not longer. Ask them questions and practice your listening skills. Million Dollar Habits – Page 250 . Building and maintaining important relationships requires unbroken chunks of time. We almost invariably go to a restaurant that is at least 30 minutes away. During this time. 60 and 90 minute periods. and interested in hearing what they have to say. but they will only do this if they feel their parents are open to them. preferably one to one. in 30. My wife and I go out for dinner alone at least once per week. The biggest regret people have at the end of their lives is that they did not spend enough time with their children when they were young. and a habit you need to develop. Children have a deep need to communicate with their parents. we simply talk and interact. Use your creativity and initiative to create these chunks of time. Develop the habit of making time every day with the important people in your life. Don't let this happen to you. or on the telephone if necessary. or with their spouses when they were working.
When I first got married. The experience changed their relationship completely. they just talked the entire way. I made a firm decision that I would never allow any music. Take Regular Vacations Million Dollar Habits – Page 251 . we leave everything off. all conversation stops. He told me afterwards that he learned more about what was going on in his daughter's life in that four-hour trip than he had learned in the previous 10 years. We will select a destination at least two or three hours away. When there are no distractions. their worries. This is one of the best decisions I ever made. their lives. Three or four times each year. the passengers almost immediately start talking about themselves. we just simply talk and exchange ideas. During this trip. in a very positive way. their concerns. He was absolutely astonished at the quality of the conversation that poured out when two people get into a car and drive with no music or radio interruption. radio or noise in my car when I was traveling with members of my family. Whenever I go somewhere with one of my children. But as soon as you turn on any music in a car. it will very quickly fill with conversation. A friend of mine had to drive his 16-year-old daughter to join her friends on a ski trip because she missed the bus. It was a four-hour trip from his home to the ski resort and there was no radio reception in the area. Try it yourself and see. These are some of the very best experiences of our lives. doubts and other things. my wife and I will drive somewhere for the weekend. When you create a sound vacuum inside a car. Instead.
It is important that you develop the habit of taking weekends away with your spouse. There is nothing that will set you apart as a quality person faster than the habit of being courteous and kindly in every situation. It becomes very easy not to go at all. But if you buy and pay for a vacation. to be courteous and kindly with everyone with whom you interact. rental cars. in advance. make it a habit to practice good manners. These family vacations together have been some of the richest and most rewarding times of our lives. and with others. Our family has been going to Hawaii in the winter every year for 18 years. it is hard to find a place to go to. and vacations away with your family. Often. it is very easy to put it off or delay it because of pressing responsibilities. We have never missed a vacation. This pre-payment serves as a wonderful discipline and assures that we never miss a family vacation together. you will almost always take that vacation. At that time. Treat Your Family Members As Your Treat Your Best Customers In all your interactions with the members of your family. and everything else. Many people wait until very close to the date before they begin thinking about booking a vacation. Million Dollar Habits – Page 252 . One of the reasons for this is that the Hawaiian resorts are so popular that you have to pay for your vacation in full by April if you want it to be confirmed for December. The key is to book the vacations in advance and pay for them on a non-refundable basis. hotels. including airfares.
And you can develop the manners you need by regularly practicing the manners that you most admire in other people. and in every interaction. By forgiveness. or unduly critical or hurtful. complain or condemn. and to live a long and happy life. The very best and most respected people in our society are men and women who make a habit of being well mannered in everything they do. Virtually all negative emotions. Every religion. Attempt to be gracious and friendly with everybody.Always say "please" and "thank you. is the habit of forgiveness. The ability to forgive opens the keys to the spiritual kingdom. I mean your ability to freely forgive other people for anything they have ever done or said that has hurt you in any way. Forgive and Let Go Perhaps the most important habit that you can develop to have wonderful relationships. Never criticize. unjust. anger. guilt. Many people go through their entire lives still angry and resentful toward one or both of their parents for a mistake that their parents made with them at an early age. frustration. envy. The ability to forgive frees you from the past and makes you a completely different person. Open the doors for other people when appropriate. seems to have forgiveness as a core principle for spiritual development. Million Dollar Habits – Page 253 . and every spiritual tradition. unsupportive. They are still angry because they felt that one of their parents was unfair. closed-minded. resentment." Be patient and wait your turn in conversations. jealously and blame arise from the inability to forgive a person for something he or she has done or said in the past.
or has otherwise been badly treated in life?" Almost everyone moans and raises their hand. As the result of refusing to let go of them. but it is one of the most important things I've ever learned in a lifetime of working with more than two million people. especially in relationships. Your age is a fact. or who has had a bad relationship. like keeping a fire burning. you continue to pay that price. Million Dollar Habits – Page 254 . I ask my thousand-person audiences." What is the difference between a fact and a problem? Well. Not only did you pay a price in terms of pain and hurt when the event occurred. over and over again. A fact is something that cannot be changed or wished away. Most of your unhappiness comes from your failure to let go of negative experiences from your past. a bad boss. It is unchangeable. The weather is a fact. you keep them alive. I then say. a friend or business associate who betrayed or cheated them. Your height is a fact. that you divide your situations in life into two categories: "facts" and "problems. get over it!" This may sound frivolous or cruel.It's Time to Move On Sometimes. It exists. "Well. a fact is something that just is. Divide Life Situations Into Two Categories It is very important. but by keeping it alive. "Is there anyone here who had a difficult childhood.
there are two time periods. these are not words that you want to hear on the phone when you are away. I backed out and hit the garage with your door and smashed it up. One of the rules for success in your relationships is to never criticize or complain about something that someone has done that cannot be changed. go ahead. One of the rules for happiness is for you not to worry about things that happened in the past that you cannot change.A problem on the other hand. One of the great rules for success and happiness in life is to refuse to become upset. When I called home the following day. I'm sitting down. It is unchangeable. It is amenable to a solution. "Are you all right? Are the children all right?" Million Dollar Habits – Page 255 . The present is a single second moving between them." I asked her. Be sure to distinguish between the two. is something that you can do something about. she asked. It represents a situation that can be changed. With regard to life. or remain upset over a fact. A past event is not a problem. I bought a new Mercedes and left it with my wife when I went off on a business trip. the past and the future.) I said. it is a fact." She said "I was taking the children to school this morning and one of them left the door open when he got into the back seat. "Are you sitting down? I have something I have to tell you." (By the way. "Yes. The Damaged Car Some years ago.
but life goes on. and to let go of every negative emotion and experience that has ever happened to you. It was a part of the past and could not be changed. It was not worth a single moment of negative emotion or concern." I said." She said. we are all fine. "Did you do it on purpose?" She said. "Of course not.She said. But it is going to cost almost $2000 to fix the door. The desire to have something in your past be different than it actually was is a major reason for negative emotions. "Well. "Yes." I said. that's too bad. As far as I was concerned." "Well then. Million Dollar Habits – Page 256 . "Why should I be mad? Wives are more important than cars or back doors. The cure for these is for you to develop the habit of forgiveness. The car wasn't moving that fast." I never commented. anger. resentment and blame. criticized or complained about the accident again. The point is this: things that have happened in your past are facts that cannot be changed. "Aren't you mad?" I said. it was a fact.
and their current situation. that you still feel angry about. If your parents are still alive. make a habit of forgiving your parents for every mistake they ever made in bringing you up. You are still trapped in the past. and become an adult. you can say to yourself. Open the Jail Doors The second person you have to forgive is any individual from a previous relationship. Million Dollar Habits – Page 257 . go and sit down with them and discuss the events and experiences you still feel angry or resentful about. based on their own experience. "I forgive them completely for everything. but they make mistakes. It is only when you can freely forgive your parents." And then let it go. I was angry and resentful about this. All parents make mistakes with their children. seeing yourself as a victim. Tell them. They do the very best they can. you are still a child. but I have decided to forgive you unconditionally and let it go. "For a long time. If your parents made a mistake with you. or a bad marriage. and let go of any lingering anger or resentment. there are four people that you need to forgive.Four People to Forgive For you to set yourself free and get on with the rest of your life." And then never bring it up again. Forgiveness sets you free to get on with your life. This is a fact. with what they have. Until that point of forgiveness. especially a romantic relationship. First. that you truly grow up.
they are dead issues. what you want and where you want to go in the future. As Buddy Hackett. Forgive your teachers and early relationships. open your hand and let those negative experiences disappear. When you let the "prisoner" out of the mental jail you have been holding him or her in. and just let it go. Let Yourself Off the Hook Million Dollar Habits – Page 258 . the shadows fall behind you. the prisoner and the jailer. they're out dancing!" Issue A Blanket Amnesty The third person you have to forgive is everyone else who has ever hurt you in any way. Make a decision today to forgive the other person. the humorist. Forgive your siblings and people from your childhood. "When you turn toward the sun. long after you began to feel unhappy. no matter what he or she did or said. you set yourself free as well." Forgive every person who has ever caused you any unhappiness in the past. once said. while you're holding grudges. Don't talk about them. As far as you are concerned. You got yourself into the situation and you kept yourself in it.Begin by accepting that you were at least 50% responsible for what happened." It takes two people to keep someone in jail. and let the past go. think about them or review them ever again. your bad bosses and dishonest business partners. Think about who you are. Sweep them all together and issue a "blanket amnesty. Resolve today to let them go forever. Like dropping a rock into a bottomless pit. "I never hold grudges.
When you did something in the past that you now disapprove of. foolish or cruel thing they did in the past. as you grow and mature. You are a new person with greater wisdom and experience who would never think of doing what you might have done when you were younger. and start thinking about how the specific actions you can Million Dollar Habits – Page 259 . "God bless him/her. or hundreds of mistakes. you were a different person. Whenever you think of a person that may have hurt you. It is virtually inevitable. Your goal is to reach the point where there is not a single person or event in your life toward which you feel any anger or resentment. I forgive him/her for everything. But it is ridiculous for you not to forgive yourself for those mistakes and get on with the rest of your life." And then get your mind busy with what you want. The fact is that your life is a continuous process of growth and evolution. you immediately cancel the thought by saying. It is absolutely amazing how many people are still sitting in negative judgment on themselves because of some wicked. senseless. Set Everyone Free The wonderful thing about the habit of forgiveness is that it sets you free. brainless.The fourth person you have to forgive is yourself. It also sets everyone that you forgive free as well. Forgive yourself and let yourself go. Let yourself off the hook. You are not the person you are today. Forgiveness is one of the most uplifting and liberating habits that you can develop in all human relationships. There is nothing wrong with making a mistake.
pause before replying. Get so busy working toward the things that are important to you that you don't have time to think or worry about the things that happened in the past that you cannot change in any case. start at home with the most valuable people in your life. think of specific things you could do to improve your relationships with these people. personal and business. 3. Let go of everything that has happened in the past that has hurt you in any way.take to achieve it. Make a list of the most important people in your life. Every kind and generous thing that you do or say for anyone else will boomerang back on you and make you a happier. and instead concentrate on making other people feel important. Million Dollar Habits – Page 260 . Develop the habit of listening better when you converse with other people. question for clarification and feed back what they say in your own words. There are no limits. more successful person. Action Exercises: 1. healthier. Make it a habit to go through life doing and saying the things that raise the selfesteem of others and make them feel valuable. pay close attention. 2. Resolve today to make others feel important whenever you can. Put People First Resolve today to develop the habits of men and women who enjoy wonderful relationships for all the days of their lives.
Develop an attitude of gratitude for everything and everyone in your life that you are happy about for any reason. 7. say "thank you" on every occasion. let go all past grievances and get so busy working on goals that are important to you that you don't have time to think about the past. co-workers and other people you meet throughout the day. make plans to spend more quality time with the people you care about the most. 6. 5. Give "one minute praisings" to your family members." (Og Mandino) Million Dollar Habits – Page 261 . Maintain a healthy balance between your work and your family life. It will survive long after your gold and good health have vanished. Practice forgiving everyone and anyone who has hurt you in any way.4. friends. "Treasure the love you receive above all.
March on. To go forward is to move toward perfection. you can assure that you live longer and better than has been possible for any other generation in human history. longevity was a matter of accident or coincidence. death from automobile accidents and death from diabetes often brought on by obesity and poor nutritional habits. cancer. Incredible advances in pharmaceuticals. They include heart disease. you can exert tremendous control over your health in each of these areas. For almost the entire history of the human race. Your job is to join this group and to be fit and healthy all the days of your life. and fear not the thorns. or more. lung cancer caused by smoking. Million Dollar Habits – Page 262 . or the sharp stones on life's path.Chapter Eleven The Habits for Health and Well Being "March on. and by developing specific health habits." (Kahlil Gibran) There has never been a time in human history where you can live longer and live better than you can today. Today longevity is a matter of design and choice. Do not tarry. strokes. To a greater or lesser degree. Most of the major causes of premature death are preventable to some degree. Perhaps the largest growing demographic group in America today is people who are 90 and 100 years old. You can actually decide today to enjoy superb levels of physical health. medicine and healthcare enable people to overcome disease and illness and continue to thrive well into their 70s and 80s.
you're right. Being overweight is very much a matter of choice." This means that they are more than 20% above their ideal weight. They are in danger of dying from being so overweight. and ever will be. "The reason I'm overweight is because of my glands. If you want to change some aspect of your life. You will learn how to develop the habits that assure that you live longer and live better than most other people in society around you. based on height and weight charts. No one can put the food into your mouth for you. Choose to Be Healthy and Fit The first habit for you to develop is the habit of achieving and maintaining your proper weight." This means that they are 40% and 50% above their ideal weights. More than 50 million Americans today are officially classified as "obese. you will learn the health habits practiced by those men and women who are seldom sick. and it is malfunctioning five times a day.In this chapter. there are many millions who are officially classified as "morbidly obese." To which the doctor replied. "Yes. It is your mouth gland. and then you must discipline yourself to follow-through on your decisions. Even worse. You only eat as the Million Dollar Habits – Page 263 . is the result of your choices and decisions. An obese person once complained. have abundant energy and vitality." Everything you are. No one can eat for you but yourself. you have to make new choices and new decisions. and who both survive and thrive into the later decades of life.
Anyone who is overweight is in that condition because they have been unable to restrain themselves in the presence of food for a very long time.morning. This is because you develop automatic habits of eating that are hard to break. Set Your Goal for Superb Physical Health The way to achieve your ideal weight is to first of all set a specific goal for the amount that you want to weigh at a specific time and date. Write it down. The Secret of Good Health There are thousands of diet books and plans. but it is definitely possible.result of your own decisions and your own actions. and to overeating in the evening. Million Dollar Habits – Page 264 . It is not easy to break these habits. You become accustomed to eating snacks between meals." The only way to achieve your proper weight is to develop the habit of eating less and exercising more each day and each week. It is not easy to lose weight. it takes you many months to get rid of the weight once you make that decision. They can all be summarized into one simple five-word rule for proper weight. excellent health and long life: "Eat less and exercise more. But just as it takes you months and years to become overweight. noon and night. You make a list of everything that you think of that you can do to achieve that goal. This is your goal. You get into a rhythm of eating certain foods .
Feed your mind with this picture of yourself with your ideal body. you will begin moving rapidly toward fitness and health. At the same time. almost without effort. Take a picture of a body that you admire out of a magazine and glue a photo of your face onto that body. Rewire Your Thinking About Food Million Dollar Habits – Page 265 . I weigh X number of pounds. it takes a long time to lose the weight and keep it off permanently. Put this picture on the door of your refrigerator. but the more gradually you take off the weight by adjusting your eating and exercise habits. two pounds per month. at your ideal weight." When you combine visualization and affirmation. I weigh X number of pounds. permanent habits that will enable you to keep the weight off forever. over and over again. "I weigh X number of pounds. trim and fit. Don't attempt to lose an enormous amount of weight in a short period of time. feelings and behaviors toward that weight. Be gentle with yourself. until your subconscious mind accepts this picture as a command and begins to influence your thoughts. the more likely it is that you will develop new.You then take action on your list and you work on achieving this goal every single day until you reach it. plus daily action to achieve and maintain your ideal weight. Affirm to yourself over and over again. Resolve to lose one ounce per day. create a clear mental picture of yourself as thin. You can set a higher goal if you like. Just as it takes a long time to gain weight. and another similar picture on your bathroom mirror.
you have now developed the habit of associating happiness with eating delicious things. As you know. You must develop a positive association between feeling mildly hungry. When you develop the habit of enjoying the feeling of eating less and exercising more. you were rewarded with delicious foods and desserts when you cleaned your plate. all human motivation is based on the tendency to move from pain to pleasure. this habit will grow stronger and stronger over time. Eat The Right Foods The second habit you need to develop for long life full of health and fitness is the habit of eating a proper diet.The primary reason for overweight and obesity is because of the habit of associating food with pleasure. vegetables and whole grain products. As a child. Everyone knows that they should eat a more balanced diet. you have to reverse the wires in your subconscious mind. from dissatisfaction to satisfaction. or did something that your parents approved of. in the right proportions. and receiving the approval of others. and develop the habits of good Million Dollar Habits – Page 266 . You have to develop the habit of eating the right foods. In addition to this basic principle. You have to disconnect them and reconnect them so that you get genuine pleasure from eating less and being thin. at the right times. containing more fruits. In order to achieve your ideal weight. from discomfort to comfort. As an adult. eating small portions and feeling light and trim as a result. and your weight problems will eventually disappear altogether. there are several things that you can do to modify your diet.
you should develop the habit of eliminating the "three white poisons" from your diet. they all included a variety of fruits and vegetables. I was about 20 pounds overweight and I could not get rid of this excess weight. At the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984. My self-image improved and my Million Dollar Habits – Page 267 . Within 90 days. As a result I have gone from rags to riches. This change in your diet is so simple and yet so powerful that every one of my students who tries it is absolutely amazed at how quickly they get noticeable results. This is the diet for peak performance and Olympic fitness. in listening to one of your programs. and never put it on again." He went on to say. no matter what I did. and large quantities of water. I moved to the top of my field and became a millionaire over the course of 12 years of hard work. "Then one day. which will lead to a combination of weight loss and higher levels of energy and fitness. I heard about the importance of eliminating the three white poisons. "I have attended your seminars and listened to your audio programs for years. The Three White Poisons In addition to eating a peak performance diet to achieve rapid weight loss and improved functioning. A man from Florida wrote to me recently. lean source proteins. The researchers discovered that even though their diets consisted of many different foods. But I still had one problem. athletes from more than 100 countries were studied to find out what their diets had in common. I had dropped the 20 pounds.nutrition.
chips. I had to get a whole new wardrobe. you will feel better immediately. many people pour salt on their food before they even taste it. Now. The fact is that there is so much salt in the foods that you consume that you need no extra salt in your diet. every time I look in the mirror I feel wonderful about myself. Almost all snack foods. and stop putting salt on your meals. fatigue. such as peanuts. too much salt can contribute to high blood pressure. When you take in more salt than you require. you get too much salt without even trying. Unfortunately the average adult in America consumes almost 20 pounds of salt per year. sleeplessness and nervous twitches. and a general feeling of tiredness throughout the day. poor digestion. your body has to compensate by retaining water to hold the salt in solution. Million Dollar Habits – Page 268 .self-esteem went up. This causes you to swell up and feel bloated. Not only that. When you stop consuming foods that are heavy in salt. sugar and flour. It changed my life!" The three white poisons are salt. If anything. The average adult requires about two pounds of salt per year for ideal physical functioning. Fritos and others are soaked in large quantities of salt. The excess consumption of sugar is so harmful for you that you can transform how you feel almost overnight by refusing to consume anything that has sugar in it. Eliminate All Sugars The second white poison is anything that contains sugar of any kind. in a variety of forms. In addition.
These foods also contain large quantities of vitamins and minerals. in all sorts of foods. Just by eliminating all products containing sugar and salt. vegetables and whole grain products. Avoiding the Sugar Rush On the other hand. but they must be broken down in the digestive process for that energy to be available. What is worse is that your glucose or sugar level spikes just after you consume a sugar-based food or drink. those made of sugar products. They go straight into the blood stream. candy. these vitamins and minerals are released and freed up for your body. It quickly secretes insulin into your Million Dollar Habits – Page 269 . The average adult requires no extra sugar for adequate functioning and ideal health. cakes. In the process of digestion. pleasure and rewards.When you were a child. Develop the habit of eating foods composed of complex carbohydrates. These foods contain large amounts of energy. you continue to give yourself the same pleasures and rewards by consuming soft drinks. dessert and sugars of all kinds. your weight will drop almost immediately. When your blood sugar level spikes. But the average adult in America consumes something like 120 extra pounds of sugar over the course of a year. your body immediately goes onto "emergency" status. you developed the habit of associating sweet things with happiness. This is why you often get a "sugar rush" after consuming a sugar-based product. require no time to digest at all. As an adult. simple carbohydrates. A complex carbohydrate is contained in fruits. such as a donut or candy bar.
If you continue to consume sugar products. you need to have experienced the tastes of salt. As a result. a decreased ability to concentrate and think clearly. you experience energy highs and lows throughout the day. Sugar is very much a "poison" that you can eliminate from your diet with no loss of nutrition and a tremendous increase in health. As a result. thereby triggering the insulin reaction." The excess insulin secreted by your body removes so much sugar that you find yourself feeling fatigued and even light headed a couple of hours after consuming a sugar based food or drink. Learn to Eat Differently To put it another way. consuming complex carbohydrates in the form of healthy. bitterness and sweetness. energy and fitness. By the way. and then all the energy is quickly removed from your system and you are back to feeling tired again. It burns long and slowly and generates a consistent. and additional fatigue by the end of the day. Consuming a food high in sugar is like throwing gasoline on a fire.system to remove the excess sugar. you actually experience an "energy slump. steady flow of energy that enables you to perform at your best. Million Dollar Habits – Page 270 . nutritious foods is like putting an energy log on your physical fire. You do not need to eat an entire dessert. you will experience greater stress. There is a huge flare-up for a short period of time. But you only need one bite of something sweet at the end of a meal to round off the dining experience. in one to two hours. What nutritionists have discovered is for you to feel completely satisfied after a meal. pungency. most people associate eating sweet things with eating dessert after a meal.
What is left over is then bleached. containing no vitamins. Whole grain products are different. They are loaded with vitamins. In fact. rice and pasta will also make you fat. Another reason to avoid these foods is that the whiteness in a white flour product is achieved by first of all milling the wheat to a fine consistency and then removing most of the nutrients. making you feel sleepy and causing constipation. which kills any nutrients remaining. It contains no nutritional value whatsoever. all you get from consuming a white flour product. This includes breads. Not only do they satisfy your appetite in small quantities. "The Zone. a roll or a bagel. bagels and donuts. In Barry Sears' best selling book. but they also contain loads of nutrients that give you a feeling of satisfaction and lightness rather than feeling heavy and full.Avoid White Flour Products The third white poison you must develop the habit of avoiding is anything that contains white flour. Carbohydrates such as potatoes. What you end up with in a white flour product is essentially an "inert" food. pastries of all kinds. like bread. They are exclusively complex carbohydrates. rolls. is a form of simple carbohydrate. When you eat them. minerals and first class proteins. they form a thick gluten that moves slowly through your digestive system." he explains that the body is not very good at breaking down white flour products. It is actually dead. minerals or Million Dollar Habits – Page 271 .
proteins. The very act of eliminating white flour products from your diet will immediately cause you to lose weight, have more energy, feel lighter and give you greater stamina throughout the day.
Why Many Foods Are Not Good For You
As an exercise, you should look at the "contents list" on the labels of canned or packaged foods sold in your local supermarket. You will be amazed to find that most canned and fast foods are loaded with sugar and salt. Sometimes, sugar or salt is the largest single ingredient in foods like canned soups or soft drinks. Why is this?
The reason has to do with preservation. What food manufactures found very early was that the best way to stop a food from rotting or decomposing on the supermarket shelf was to kill the food before you send it to the store in the first place. By immersing a food in salt or sugar, you actually kill it so that it will last much longer on the shelf, or in your pantry. But by killing it, you eliminate most of the food value that it would have if it were fresh.
Develop the habit of organizing your diet around foods that do not contain salt, sugar or flour. Instead, eat fresh foods, with bright colors, that are high in nutrients. By eating highly nutritious foods, you will begin to lose weight immediately. You will feel lighter and more alert, have more stamina, and function at far higher levels, both mentally and physically.
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Timing Is Important
The time that you eat during the day is almost as important as what you eat. Nutritionists have found that you need about 2000 calories per day for ideal functioning. However, when you consume these calories will determine whether or not you gain or lose weight. If you consume 80% of your 2000 calories at breakfast and lunch, and only 20% of your calories after 2:00 pm in the afternoon, you will lose weight steadily. If however, you eat a light breakfast, a light lunch and then a heavy dinner, consuming 60% to 80% of your calories after 2:00 pm in the afternoon, you will gain weight, eating the same 2000 calories that someone else is consuming and losing weight.
From now on, resolve to eat as Adele Davis, the diet guru once said, "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper." By disciplining yourself to eat light and lean in the evenings, and not eating anything later than three hours before bedtime, you will sleep better and wake up more refreshed.
Turn Off Your Appestat
Develop the habit of eating half portions, of eating lightly rather than heavily at each meal. Eat better foods, containing more nutrients, and eat fewer of them. Use a smaller plate when you dish out your portions, and stop eating when you are no longer hungry.
Just as a room has a thermostat that keeps the temperature within a certain range, each person has an "appestat" that regulates their appetite. This appestat, which
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tells you that you are hungry, continues to function for about 20 minutes after you eat the first bite of food. At the end of 20 minutes, your appestat switches off and your appetite disappears. From then on, you are not eating for nutrition, but for pleasure.
You can turn off your appestat deliberately by beginning a meal with soup, fruits or vegetables of some kind. By eating and chewing slowly, stretching out the initial part of the meal past the 20-minute point, you can actually kill your appetite, satisfy your hunger, and end up eating less and feeling better. You can actually trick yourself into eating less and losing weight. Even eating something like a piece of fruit or a few nuts will begin the process of shutting down your appestat and enable you to stop eating.
You Become What You Eat
Develop the habit of viewing your body as a chemical factory. You know that you become what you eat. Nutritionists have concluded that everything you put into your body is broken down into its individual chemical components and is then absorbed by your body in the process of digestion.
Before you put anything in your mouth, carefully consider the chemical components of the food. Does this foodstuff contain the particular nutrients that are the very best for you at this time? What we refer to as a "junk food" is a food that is composed of elements containing no nutrients, and which are simultaneously hard to break down and digest. Junk foods are essential inert, dead, useless foods that provide nothing except the momentary olfactory and gustatory pleasure
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experienced at the moment of eating them. Refuse to put junk foods, and other poor quality foods into your chemical factory.
Imagine that you became extremely wealthy and you were able to purchase an expensive racehorse, one that cost perhaps one million dollars. What kinds of foods would you give to this racehorse? Would you allow this racehorse to eat candy bars, potato chips, bagels and other high carbohydrate, low-nutrient foods? Of course not!
Think of how much more valuable you are as a person. You are certainly worth more than a million dollars. You should at least treat yourself as well as you would treat an animal that you had purchased.
Get Lots of Exercise
The third habit you need to develop is the habit of proper exercise. Many people stop exercising in their late teens and early twenties, even people who were active in sports when they were growing up. However, the human body, made up of 610 muscles, is meant to be exercised regularly throughout your life.
Develop the habit of articulating and moving every joint in your body, every single day. This keeps your muscles and joints agile and flexible. Regular exercise assures that you have greater balance and mobility. It helps to diminish the likelihood of muscle or joint pain or problems.
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Develop the habit of exercising 200 minutes each week. If all you did were to go for a walk, 30 minutes per day, seven days per week, you would be one of the fittest people in our society. If you disciplined yourself to ride an exercise bicycle, work out on a treadmill, swim, jog or engage in any aerobic exercises that get your lungs and heart pumping, you will dramatically improve your levels of health and energy in a short period of time.
Many people do not like to exercise. Well, that's too bad. The fact is that, if your goal is to live a long and healthy life, to be slim, trim and attractive to members of the opposite sex, to have high levels of self-esteem and personal pride, it is absolutely essential that you become physically fit. Fortunately, physical fitness is eminently achievable if you will just develop some of the habits that we are talking about in this chapter.
Take Good Care of Yourself
The next habit that you need for superb all around health is the habit of proper rest. You need seven to eight hours of sleep each night for optimal performance. If you get less than six to seven hours of sleep per night, and you continue to work as hard as you normally do at your job, you will eventually develop a "sleep deficiency."
It is estimated that more than 60% of Americans are walking around today in a form of "fog." They are going to bed too late, often after having eaten late as well, sleeping poorly, arising not fully rested, and going through the day without the ability to function at their best, mentally and physically.
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You can change the way you feel about yourself, and your performance in your work and personal life, by developing the habit of going to bed early, by 10:00 pm each night and getting a good night's sleep every night of the week. Many people who have increased their sleeping hours from five or six to seven or eight have been absolutely amazed at the difference. They feel as if they have woken from a deep slumber. They feel brighter and clearer and are more alert, creative and intelligent. Sufficient rest is really important.
Take Regular Vacations
In our Advanced Coaching and Mentoring Program, we teach people to set a goal of taking 120 to 150 days off each year. Initially, our clients are incredulous. They claim that it is simply impossible. It cannot be done. They are too busy. They have too much to do. If anything, they need to take off less time so that they can get caught up with all of their responsibilities.
However, if you develop the habit of taking every weekend off completely, allowing your mental and physical batteries to recharge, that will amount to a total of 104 days per year. If you take off every public holiday, that will be 6 more days per year, making a total of 110 days. If you take off four, six, or eight weeks each year on vacation, and refuse to do anything associated with work during that time, you will soon be taking off 120 to 150 days each year, almost without noticing it.
As you do this, something extraordinary will happen in your work. You will be more bright and alert. You will be more intelligent and creative. You will come up
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Whenever we teach our clients to do this. Early arising enables you to get up and get going without a feeling of pressure to rush out of the house in order to get to work on time. Million Dollar Habits – Page 278 . Almost all successful people practice the old saying. What I have concluded is that you can take off as many as three full months each year and simultaneously increase your productivity. and how much better they feel. how much faster they move ahead in their field. develop the habit of going to bed early and arising early. "Early to bed and early to rise makes a person healthy. It seems that the more rest you get. you will have ample time to think about the day ahead and to plan your work activities.with a continuous stream of ideas and insights that will enable you to accomplish vastly more than the people around you. Early To Bed and Early To Rise In addition to the habit of proper rest. and the faster you move ahead in your career. and the more rested you are. the fewer mistakes you make. Early rising gives you an opportunity to read. output and income. they are absolutely astonished at how much more money they make. the more productive you become. performance. I have studied this subject at great length for many years. wealthy and wise. reflect and meditate. at 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning. We have never had an exception to this rule. as the result of going to bed early and taking regular vacations." When you get up early.
drink full glasses of water.Develop the habit of investing the first hour of the day in yourself. ideally composed of a salad with protein such as chicken or fish. diet and rest. motivational or educational. Rewrite and reflect on your goals. Million Dollar Habits – Page 279 . Eat a light dinner. You need approximately two full quarts of water throughout the day to maintain the proper level of hydration in your body. you will soon have your weight and your health under control. But this is not enough. Drink Lots of Water In addition to proper weight. Eat a high quality lunch. the rest of your day will seem much smoother. More and more people are finding that the consumption of large quantities of water throughout the day is one of the most important things you can do for excellent health. Develop the habit of eating an excellent. but no breads. Henry Ward Beecher once wrote. The average person sips water throughout the day. primarily composed of vegetables with a little protein." When you invest this first hour in yourself. and will unfold with great efficiency and effectiveness. Instead of sipping when you go past the drinking fountain. develop the habit of proper hydration as well. rolls or pasta. bacon or sausage. at least once every hour. By developing the habit of eating in this way. Read something inspirational. "The first hour is the rudder of the day. high protein breakfast with no toast.
The most important is that proper hydration serves the purpose of detoxifying your body continually throughout the day. This washing away of excess salt will cause you to lose weight. When you are drinking sufficient quantities of water. There are a thousand reasons for this. If you drink any excess. When you are dehydrated.You can tell if you are properly hydrated. the water washes away excess salt. The fact is that you simply do not get enough of the essential vitamins and minerals that you need for optimum health in your current diet. and sometimes even brown. Drinking lots of water has several great benefits. When you drink lots of water. You cannot drink too much water. Million Dollar Habits – Page 280 . the depletion of the soil. sugar and other toxins that interfere with excellent health and functioning. and the way that foodstuffs are processed before they get to your table. on the other hand. it will just pass through in a short period of time. by looking at the color of your urine. drinking lots of water will wash away the extra salt that often causes you to feel fat and bloated. You feel brighter and more alert. rather than dehydrated. The fact is that you cannot drink too much water. including the excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides in growing crops. your urine will be a deep yellow. You become more creative and focused. If you are currently overweight. Take Vitamin and Mineral Supplements An important health habit for you is the habit of taking vitamin and mineral supplements each day. your urine will be almost clear.
Not only that. Today. People who take excellent care of their teeth tend to be healthier physically as well. fresher breath. One of the arguments against vitamin and mineral supplements is that. easier and more controllable for you to take vitamin and mineral supplements on a regular basis. including a wide variety of fruits. vegetables. It is much better. There seems to be a direct relationship between dental health and hygiene and physical health and hygiene. Get Regular Checkups Develop the habit of getting regular physical and dental check-ups. and are more attractive to others.However. when you take high quality vitamin and mineral supplements along with your meals. they look better." This may be true. you will be assured of getting all the nutrients you need for high levels of energy and fitness. Practice Excellent Dental Hygiene Develop the habit of brushing and flossing your teeth twice each day. whole grain products and lean source proteins to get the entire range of vitamins and minerals you require to function at your best. we have the most advanced medical technology and the best doctors in the history of Million Dollar Habits – Page 281 . but nutritionists have calculated that you would need to consume about 20 pounds of food per day. "You get all the vitamins and minerals you need if you just eat a proper diet. have cleaner.
The practice of temperance. you should also apply the principle of temperance to other things that you consume as well.the world available to us to enable us to live well and live longer. covering more than 20." Just as you should eat less than your stomach is capable of holding.000 men over a 22-year period. According to the Alameda Study. such as heart disease and various forms of cancer. especially alcohol. or "moderation in all things. It is tragic to learn about friends who died from cancer or heart disease because they put off going to a doctor until it was too late. can be detected years before they become dangerous if you get regular check-ups. is an essential habit for long life. Another is the number of people killed in automobile accidents as the result of drunken driving. Don't let this happen to you. Practice Moderation In All Things Develop the habit of temperance. or moderation in alcohol consumption." One of the major killers in our society today is sclerosis of the liver. Belt Yourself In Million Dollar Habits – Page 282 . one of the most important of all health habits is "moderate to nil alcohol consumption. But none of these benefits or advantages will do us any good if we do not get regular check-ups. Many of the life-threatening diseases.
brush your teeth. Insist that your passengers fasten their seatbelts as well. Bathe and shower regularly. Clean As A Whistle Develop the habit of cleanliness and excellent hygiene in every part of your life. is the importance of wearing seatbelts when you drive. Million Dollar Habits – Page 283 .000 people die each year as the result of automobile accidents.Another discovery of the Alameda Study. proper diet. customers and coworkers are far more likely to be impressed and influenced by people who look and smell good at work. Most of these deaths could be avoided if people were wearing full seat and shoulder belts. Not only will you be more attractive to others by practicing high levels of cleanliness and orderliness in your personal and business life. clean your fingernails and resolve to look excellent in every respect. it can save the life of your passengers. wash your hair. in addition to proper weight. By the same token. It is a small effort for a huge potential benefit. Make it a habit to do up your seatbelt whenever you get into your car. It is a big pay-off for a small effort. Wear clean clothes each day." More than 42. but also your self-image will improve and your self-esteem will increase. Use proper deodorant and mouthwash. proper exercise and proper rest. Researchers have discovered that teachers pay greater attention to students who come to school clean and well dressed than they do to students who come poorly dressed and unkempt. bosses. This will not only give you an edge in terms of long-life. There is a saying that "They only have to work once.
be calm. the willingness to accept the things I cannot." (Reinhold Niebuhr). Practice Solitude Daily Develop the habit of taking time for yourself. and the wisdom to know the difference. Resolve to maintain a positive mental attitude no matter what happens. Blaise Pascal. Instead. happiness and long-life is the habit of maintaining a positive attitude toward the people and situations in the world around you. relaxed and focused on solutions to the problems and difficulties facing you." Million Dollar Habits – Page 284 . and just allow yourself to commune deeply with the world around you. in the silence. put aside all reading materials. in solitude and meditation each day. Refuse to allow yourself to become upset or angry when people and situations do not measure up to your expectations. Remind yourself of the Serenity Prayer: "God grant me the ability to change the things I can. Reserve for yourself a 30-60 minute period where you can be completely alone. Turn off all radio and television.Become An Unshakable Optimist One of the most important habits that you can develop for health. "All the problems in the world originate because of man's inability to be alone in a room with himself. the French writer once wrote.
and then organize all of your life and activities around this goal. You will arise from a period of solitude greatly refreshed. We are so busy. and so little time. and achieving your every goal. you will receive an endless flow of ideas. Trust your intuition. But this is mistaken. Fully 85% or more of all physical illnesses and ailments today are psychosomatic in origin. You will receive superconscious insights and ideas to deal with the challenges of your day-to-day life. The problems and difficulties facing you will become lighter and easier to bear. The very act of letting go and relaxing. at the right time. in the right way. As you trust your inner voice. dramatically Million Dollar Habits – Page 285 . emotionally and spiritually and with wonderful thoughts about how you can improve the quality of your life and work. you will feel your mind becoming clear and calm. "psycho" the mind. insights and creative solutions to solving your problems. that we feel that we cannot take the few minutes necessary to sit quietly and be alone with ourselves. and listening to your intuition. Listen to your inner voice.Most people have never practiced solitude and meditation. You will always find yourself doing and saying the right things. with so much to do. sick. you will probably never make another mistake. Set Peace of Mind as Your Most Important Goal Develop the habit of making "peace of mind" your most important goal in life. When you begin to focus on developing greater peace of mind. makes "soma" the body. Only do what feels right and natural for you to do. Each time that you sit in solitude for 30 minutes or more. mentally. practicing solitude and meditation on a regular basis.
and you will enjoy every step along the way. The journey of your life will be far longer than that of the average person. By placing peace of mind as the central organizing principle of your life. Make a complete health plan to live to be 100 years old. and the more positive and optimistic your thinking. waist size. or less of. efficient and happier person. Determine the one health habit that could help you the most at the moment and then launch on this habit immediately. 3. to reach that goal in fine form? 5. immediately. and make the necessary bookings. allow no exceptions until it is a permanent part of your behavior. and raises your levels of energy and awareness. as if you had no limitations and you could achieve any condition you desired. number of minutes of exercise per week and your physical activities. Action Exercises: 1. what level of health would you have if you were physically perfect in every respect? 2. Organize your vacation schedule for the next year. 4. Set clear. Practice future-orientation and "idealize" perfect health for yourself. Write out a description of your ideal future health. 6. with deposits. written. the healthier and happier you will be and the longer you will live. The more centered you are within yourself.lowers your levels of stress and tension. time-bounded goals for your weight. what would you immediately do more of. in advance. you will become a more effective. Million Dollar Habits – Page 286 .
"A strong. He creates favorable conditions. His own inherent force and energy compel things to turn out as he desires. either first thing in the morning or in the evening." (Orison Swett Marden) Million Dollar Habits – Page 287 . Resolve to take time for yourself each day in solitude and meditation. keep this appointment with yourself. successful man is not the victim of his environment.7.
but because he is a man of high and heroic temper. not because he does not feel them. For example. The most important goal that you accomplish in the course of your life is to become an excellent person. in every respect. esteem and affection of the important people in your world. They discipline themselves to do the right thing in every situation. Aristotle wrote about the great virtues possessed by the leading men and women of the age." (Aristotle) The ultimate aim of human life and activity is the development of character. Men and women of great character are those who have developed the habits of thinking and behaving that are consistent with the fine qualities that they wish to be known for. have behaved in certain ways. according to Aristotle. living and dead.Chapter Twelve The Habits of Character and Leadership "The beauty of the soul shines out when a man bears with composure one heavy mischance after another. and by steady effort. Your purpose should be to develop the kind of personality and character that earns you the respect. great people in our world. In his Nicomachaen Ethics. He concluded that each virtue is a "Golden Mean" between the extremes of that quality on either side. he concluded that courage was the golden mean between cowardliness on the one extreme and impetuosity on the other. He taught that it should be each person's Million Dollar Habits – Page 288 . By working on themselves. whether they felt like it or not.
if you wish to learn a virtue later in life the method is simple. be generous on every occasion. character and good behavior.goal in life to reach the golden mean in each virtue. act courageously even when you feel afraid. In other words. Simply practice the virtue in every situation where that virtue is required. said that. probably the greatest philosopher and thinker of all time. You can learn a virtue or value of character and leadership the same way you develop a physical skill or habit. quality or attribute that he aspires to. "All improvement in society begins with the education of the young. even if Million Dollar Habits – Page 289 . The Education of the Young Aristotle also wrote that. This is the time when young people are most capable of incorporating the finest qualities into their characters. by practice and repetition." One of the primary responsibilities for those in charge of educating young people is to instill in them the importance of virtue. fortunately all virtues and values are merely habits of thinking and acting. But what if you have reached adulthood without the virtues and qualities that you most admire and aspire to? What can you do? Well. If you wish to develop the quality of generosity. if you wish to develop the quality of courage. Children are inordinately influenced by the people around them when they are growing up. Develop Your Own Character Aristotle. You can learn any habit that you consider to be either desirable or necessary.
Eventually. The starting point of character development is for you to develop the habit of longterm thinking in your work and in your personal life. and to write your own eulogy. If you could fulfill your potential.your feel stingy. and desire to incorporate into your personality. and resolve to develop the habits of excellent behavior practiced by the men and women who you most admire. we talked about the role of the "self-ideal" in shaping and forming personal character. As you practice and repeat the virtue. The more repeatedly you engage in those behaviors. Imagine Your Ideal Self When we spoke about self-concept in Chapter One. Establish a series of goals and a work schedule for the development of your own character and personality. how would people think about you. until they become a permanent part of you. the more you internalize those qualities. the easier it is for you to engage in the behaviors that are consistent with those virtues and values. There is no area where this is more relevant than for you to project to the end of your life. Set high standards for yourself. it becomes more and more a part of your personality. to be read at your funeral where your friends and family are gathered. It soon becomes automatic and easy. talk about you and describe Million Dollar Habits – Page 290 . The greater clarity you have about the qualities that you most admire. and become the very best person that it is possible for you to become. Decide today to become a "do-it-to-yourself" project. you will reach the point where you cannot imagine acting in any other way.
" This habit of projecting yourself forward into the distant future. for example. and then looking back to the present for guidance on the steps that you should be taking each day can have a profound impact on your life. and for what reasons? Acting As If You Were Already That Person As you develop greater clarity about how you want to be remembered in the hearts and minds of other people. In his obituary. you "act as if" you already had those qualities whenever they are called for. They then wrote his obituary. But the newspapers got the name wrong and instead concluded that it was Alfred Nobel himself who had died. You can then set those qualities as goals for yourself. "There but for the grace of God. and make plans for their accomplishment. values and qualities would they ascribe to you? How would you be remembered. go I. If you wish to develop the quality of compassion. which had been responsible for the death of countless human beings in wars and conflicts around the world. Million Dollar Habits – Page 291 . which he read the next day. If you wish to develop the quality of patience.you to others? What words would they use? What virtues. the primary accomplishment for which he was remembered was for the invention of gunpowder. practice putting yourself in the situation of the other person and thinking. Many years ago. practice being patient even when you feel pressured or in a hurry. the brother of Alfred Nobel died in Stockholm. you will become more clear about those values and qualities that are most important to you. From that point forward.
he transformed both his present actions. rise to the top in any area. they began to envision and imagine themselves having the same qualities when they grew up as the people that they were reading about. he established the Nobel Prizes. science. would be completely different. Because young people are so susceptible to the suggestive influences of others. To this end. The competition for leadership is fierce.Change Your Destiny This obituary had such a shocking effect on Nobel that he immediately began rearranging his entire life to change his legacy and to assure that his obituary. Million Dollar Habits – Page 292 . and then to hold onto those positions against all others who desire them. medicine. Aspire To Leadership It is not easy to rise to a position of leadership in any organization or in any society. based on his great fortune. Only the people who are the very best equipped to acquire leadership positions. He rewrote his own obituary. And that is exactly what happened in many cases. when it was written. which are today the highest awards that can be attained in the worlds of literature. It seems that many men and women who achieve greatness as adults spend many hours as children reading the biographies and autobiographies of successful people. as they read. peace and chemistry. economics. By thinking clearly about the legacy he wanted to leave. you should develop the habit of reading about and studying about other men and women who have started with little or nothing and who have gone on to accomplish wonderful things with their lives. and his ultimate memory. To become a person of great quality and value.
Whatever It Takes In a way. There have been more than 3300 studies of leadership conducted over the years." Leaders have vision. Of those qualities. political and economic environment. including the people to be led. Million Dollar Habits – Page 293 . and the situation that the leader finds himself in at the moment. there are a few that seem to be consistent in almost every case where a leader accomplishes great things and earns the undying respect. leadership is "situational. The qualities of leadership necessary to start and build a successful entrepreneurial business are very different from the leadership qualities necessary to run a large organization. the social.Different areas of endeavor require different qualities of leadership to be successful. the objectives to be accomplished by the organization. even long after he has passed from the scene. If you change any one of these factors. ordinary people do not. The qualities of leadership necessary to direct an army at war are very different from the qualities of leadership that are necessary to direct a large university. They have discovered more than 50 different qualities that leaders have or develop over time." What is necessary for success in a leadership position is determined by many factors. The one quality that all these studies on leadership held in common was the quality of "vision. the competition for resources. the qualities of leadership necessary for success will change as well. cultural. esteem and loyalty of other people.
Develop A Vision To become a person of character. money. and then to focus all the energies Million Dollar Habits – Page 294 . the most important long-term vision you can have for your organization is to "be the best. the easier it is for you to motivate and to inspire other people to work with you to make that vision a reality. Be The Best At What You Do In business. Just as you would design your dream house if you had an unlimited budget. the first habit you must develop is the habit of vision. take some time to design your "dream future" as if you had unlimited abilities and resources. Imagine that you have no limitations of time. Create a perfect future ideal image of how your situation would appear if it were perfect in every way." It is to identify a quality of your product or service that is relevant and important to your customers. You must develop the habit of projecting forward several years into the future. One way to develop a vision for each part of your life is to wave a magic wand in your mind and imagine that you have no limitations on what you can be. Allow your mind to float freely. resources or ability. and what it will look like if you are successful. have or do. and a leader in your own life and world. You must develop the habit of developing absolute clarity about what you want to accomplish in your position. Imagine that everything is possible for you. The greater clarity you have regarding your long-term vision.
The Secret to Success Million Dollar Habits – Page 295 . The faster you fail in a forward direction. money. and temporary failure. The rule is that it is impossible to succeed without failing. the faster you succeed. Without this commitment to excellence.and creativity of your organization toward achieving superior performance in that area. organizations and individuals slip into mediocre or merely satisfactory performance. women and leaders at every level. and by then evaluating the reasons for your failure. is the habit of courage. The most important part of courage is the willingness to launch. difficulties. Developing the habit of thinking in terms of making your business the very best in your industry is an essential quality of visionary leadership. to take action in the direction of your goals and dreams. obstacles. by default. Many people have exciting hopes. You only learn to succeed by failing. Failure seems to be an indispensable prerequisite for success. the second most common habit of great men. emotion and other resources. Dare To Go Forward The second quality you must develop. But only a few people have the courage to take the risks necessary to turn those visions into realities. with no guarantee of success. Courage requires that you take risks with time. setbacks. dreams and visions for the future. Courage requires that you accept the possibility of losses.
to do the things that you fear and to deal with the people and situations that make you feel fearful." He concluded.Thomas J." Overcoming Your Fears The way that you develop the habit of courage is by acting courageously whenever courage is called for. "Mr. the worst possible things will go wrong at the worst possible times. and cost the most money. founder of IBM. Million Dollar Habits – Page 296 . "If you do the thing you fear. And of all the things that can go wrong." You develop the habit of courage by moving toward the things you fear. "Murphy was an optimist. Murphy's Law will apply to every new goal that you attempt: "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong. You develop the habit of cowardliness by moving away from or avoiding the things or people that you fear. how can I be more successful faster?" Watson replied with these profound words. Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote that the most important lesson he learned as a young man was." It seems that you will fail far more times than you succeed. you must double your rate of failure. From this day forward. to face your fears. make it a habit to confront your fears. "In every situation do the thing you fear. was once asked by the young journalist Arthur Gordon. Watson. Each time you face a fear and overcome it. the death of fear is certain. Watson. Success lies on the far side of failure." The first corollary to Murphy's Law is that. "If you want to succeed faster.
you will reach the point where you are not really afraid of anything. It is only your actions. long-term or shortMillion Dollar Habits – Page 297 . if I knew I could not fail?" Imagine that you have a magic wand that you can wave and you will be absolutely guaranteed of success in anything you attempt. "What one great thing would I dare to dream. It is not what you say. Eventually. You become a stronger and more confident person. wish. but inevitable and unavoidable. but your self-esteem and self-respect goes up as well. You will recognize that facing fear is just something that leaders do each day. especially your actions in the face of adversity and possible setbacks or losses." Develop the habit of asking this question. like driving through rush hour traffic. even when your natural tendency is to avoid them.not only does your courage increase. The Greek stoic philosopher Epictetus once wrote. by continually doing the things you fear. The True Test of the Leader Peter Drucker says that the only event that is inevitable in the life of the leader is the "unexpected crisis. It is unfortunate. "Circumstances do not make the man. that you demonstrate the kind of person you really are. large or small. hope or intend that reveals your character. a difficulty or the inevitable crisis. they merely reveal him to himself." It is only when you encounter a setback. an obstacle.
You will move forward like a rushing flood. and resolved to develop unshakable courage by doing the things you fear. you must develop the habit of accepting complete responsibility for yourself and for every aspect of your life. As your level of courage and confidence increases." Put another way. You Are Responsible Once you have developed a clear vision for your ideal future. the stronger and more confident you will feel. As Shakespeare said in Macbeth. from this day forward. and it shall be!" Develop the habit.term." Leap and build your wings on the way down. The more you confront your fears and eliminate them. your fears and doubts will decrease. end them. and then confronting each one of them until they contain no more fear for you. and the death of fear is certain. and in so doing. Your self-esteem and self-respect will rise. As your fears diminish. "Leap. What goals would you set for yourself if you were guaranteed of success in any area? Dorothy Brande once wrote. Make it a habit to do the things you fear. you will become more powerful and persuasive. of identifying the things you fear that may be holding you back. and the net will appear. You will become unstoppable. Million Dollar Habits – Page 298 . "Take arms against a sea of troubles. "Act as if it were impossible to fail.
Emerson once wrote that you could measure the size of a person by looking at the size of the responsibilities that he or she is willing to take on. The more responsibility you accept. and spend much of their energies rationalizing. justifying and explaining away their failure to make progress. The habit of taking responsibility unlocks your mental powers Million Dollar Habits – Page 299 . The acceptance of complete responsibility is as essential to leadership as is courage. You become more focused and effective. you feel completely in control of yourself and everything that is happening around you. it is impossible to accept responsibility and to remain angry. Followers do not. Followers see themselves as victims. Leaders see themselves as the primary creative forces in their own lives. immediately cancel this thought and feeling by saying "I am responsible!" Emotionally. Leaders refuse to make excuses while followers hide behind them. When you accept responsibility. the greater control you take over the various aspects of your life.Leaders accept responsibility. Take Charge of Your Emotions Make it a habit to continually repeat to yourself the words. You feel like a master of your own destiny. "I am responsible!" Whenever you feel angry or frustrated about some person or situation. There is a direct relationship between responsibility and a sense of control. you feel in charge. you relax and your mind clears. When you take complete responsibility. When you accept total responsibility. like putting both hands on the wheel of your own life.
as the night the day. the first quality looked for in an employee. and the quality of your reputation is determined by your level of integrity. They may not like what you say. "He who steals my purse steals trash. is the quality of honesty. and become a completely honest person. a manager. as the most important statement about you. People will know that they can always rely on you and your word. and with everyone around you. You must develop the habit of living in truth with yourself. Tell The Truth Perhaps the most important quality of leadership is the habit of integrity. Shakespeare also said. "To thine own self be true. Million Dollar Habits – Page 300 . and then it must follow. This is one of the very best reputations that you can possibly earn." The most important asset you develop through life is your reputation. thou canst not then be false to any man. a chief executive and even a friend or spouse. Shakespeare wrote. This does not mean that you will always be right. but you will always endeavor to tell the truth. but they will know that you always speak the truth. steals all.and makes you a more positive and optimistic person." You must guard your integrity as a sacred thing. You develop integrity. In every part of business and society today. but he who steals my good name. as you see it. by practicing telling the truth to yourself and others in every situation. It characterizes you as a true leader.
you refuse to compromise those values for anything. You simply ask yourself. Be A Role Model For Others The men and women who are the most admired. General Norman Schwarzkopf.Decide What You Stand For Living in truth means that you live consistent with the highest values that you know. from a senior officer. it becomes much easier for you to make decisions in each area of your life. "Integrity is not so much a value as it is the value that guarantees all the other values. once said that the most important leadership principle he learned. You continually clarify what you stand for. are those who live or lived lives of exemplary honesty and Million Dollar Habits – Page 301 ." This is a wonderful insight. "Is this the right thing to do?" And then behave accordingly. A client of mine once explained integrity with these profound words. was simply. esteemed and respected in our society. "Do the right thing. Once you have decided that you are going to build your life around certain values." Whenever you are in doubt about a course of action. "Is this consistent with the very best that I know?" If it is not. This requires that you develop the habit of thinking through who you are and what you believe in. you refuse to do it. When you set integrity as your highest value. living and dead. simply ask yourself. and what you will not stand for. commander during the 1991 Gulf War.
your friends. your coworkers and your company. and to the living of a full life in society. This is a wonderful reputation for you to have as well." It was said that America only came into being because of the incredible character of George Washington. They always told the truth. Each of them is essential to the others. got the nickname of "Honest Abe" as a young man when he walked several miles to return a few pennies that a woman had overpaid when she bought something from the general store where he was working. George Washington is often called the "Father of his country. he was esteemed and respected as one of the most honest men of his day. these are Prudence. in his important book. In order. Throughout his career. Justice and Benevolence. your family.integrity in everything they did. wrote that excellent people have three primary virtues. considered the second most important and esteemed president in American history. The Theory of Moral Sentiments. It was the respect that the Founding Fathers had for the honesty and integrity of Washington that held them together during the darkest days of the Revolutionary War. You could always count on them and believe in them. The Three Primary Virtues Adam Smith. They were absolutely trustworthy. This requires that you think intelligently and honestly about the very best course of Million Dollar Habits – Page 302 . Abraham Lincoln. The virtue of prudence refers to your developing the habit of providing well for yourself.
The most successful people are those who are prudent in the conduct in all of their personal and business affairs. You would set up this structure without knowing into what sort of family or situation you would be born. You Million Dollar Habits – Page 303 . not men.action to maximize your opportunities and minimize possible danger and threats. The habit of prudence means that you investigate every investment carefully. The American Republic has endured for more than 200 years because it was carefully established by the Founding Fathers on the basis of law. specific laws are prescribed and laid down that are applicable to all people. At every level of our society. You are given the power to prescribe the economic. think ahead about what might happen if you were to take a particular course of action. once presented a question to his class that has been repeated often through the years. This refers to your commitment to the establishment and maintenance of laws in society that protect the persons and property of every individual. John Rawls. and take intelligent steps to guard against setbacks and reversals of fortune. social and political relationships that would exist in your country throughout your lifetime." "There is only one limitation on your power. the Harvard philosopher and author of A Theory of Justice. regardless of wealth or station in life. Justice Is Blind The second habit for you to develop is the habit of justice. "Imagine that you could write the laws and create the circumstances of your society.
Aristotle referred to it as one of the eight essential virtues. you will insist that. True justice is therefore applicable to all people who live under a certain system. The rule is that you should never want or demand anything for anyone else that you are not perfectly willing to accept for yourself. is blindfolded.would not know in advance what sort of physical condition you might be born with. The statue of justice. whatever the relative power of the parties. What kind of structure would you design in this situation?" The answer to this question is the very essence of the concept of justice. The habit of prudence is essential for personal success. The habit of justice is essential for the creation of a society within which a person can pursue his or her own best interests with the greatest of possibilities." Each person is psychologically and emotionally structured in such a way that they are only truly happy and satisfied when they feel that they are doing something that Million Dollar Habits – Page 304 . you would then be required to live under them for the rest of your life. Whatever system of laws and customs you decided upon. When you make the habit of justice an organizing virtue for your own character. holding the balances and scales in her hand. everyone be treated fairly and justly in the resolution of any difficulty or dispute. This is one of the hallmark characteristics of the truly superior person. that of "generosity. irrespective of their background. The Virtue of Generosity The third quality or habit that you must develop is the habit of benevolence.
The habit of faith requires that you simply believe that there is a higher power in the universe. and that this power wants the very best for Million Dollar Habits – Page 305 . You remember the principle: "The more you give of yourself to others without expectation of return. whether it is to members of your family or to members of the public. it seems that most great men and women are men and women of faith. justice and benevolence leads naturally to feelings and actions of kindness. I don't mean that you believe in a dogmatic and inflexible set of religious principles or doctrines. the more good things there are that will come back to you from the most unexpected sources. to a high degree. compassion and tolerance toward other people. By faith. not only do you feel a deep sense of personal satisfaction. You become more open minded and flexible. you feel more valuable and happier inside. Believe In Something Greater One of the most important habits you can develop is the habit of faith.serves and benefits other people. You develop greater patience and understanding. You are less judgmental or demanding of others." The regular practice of prudence. Regardless of your religious or spiritual beliefs. When you give freely and generously of yourself to others. When you dedicate yourself to serving your customers with the very best quality of product or service of which you are capable. but you also put yourself on the side of the angels when it comes to personal and business success. You become a better and finer person.
Napoleon Hill once wrote. Million Dollar Habits – Page 306 .you. the more likely it is that you will find it. Norman Vincent Peale used to say. The greater faith you develop. the greater confidence you will have that everything that is happening to you is part of a great plan that is moving you inevitably toward something better. your whole life will be changed as the result of a lesson you learn from an unexpected reversal of fortune or temporary failure. "Within every difficulty or obstacle is contained the seed of an equal or greater benefit or advantage. Seek For The Valuable Lesson When you have faith. you believe that every setback contains a lesson that has been sent to you to help you. the bigger the gift that it contains. He wraps it up in a problem. "When God wants to send you a gift. difficulty or obstacle that they neglect to look inside of it for the gift that it might contain." The more you search for the benefit or advantage. Sometimes. One of the most important habits you can ever develop is an unshakable belief that every problem in your experience has been sent to you at exactly the right moment in your life to teach you something that you need to know to be more successful and happier in the future." Most people are so preoccupied with the problem. The bigger the problem He wraps it up in. for the valuable lesson or insight.
As they had been ordered. The decision from the outset that you will be completely loyal to the people who expect and deserve your loyalty enables you to remain clear and focused in the face of short-term successes and reversals. fully 40% of the Detroit autoworkers were driving Japanese cars. Loyalty Is Essential The habit of loyalty seems to be a quality of the very best people in our society. This became a source of major embarrassment when the television crews began filming the arriving demonstrators.Your ability to develop and maintain the habit of faith clears your mind. Disloyalty is a major reason for failure in business and the world of work. These workers were not even prepared to buy the same cars that they were manufacturing. You never criticize your boss or the people you work with. To the surprise and chagrin of the organizers. Sometime ago. especially outside the Million Dollar Habits – Page 307 . Support Your Family. demanding quotas. the automobile workers arrived for the demonstration from all over Detroit. Friends and Company The habit of loyalty requires that you be absolutely loyal to your company. restrictions and higher tariffs in order to protect American manufacturing and jobs. gives you greater self-confidence and enables you to tune into a higher power that will then guide you to always do and say the right thing at the right time. one of the big three automobile manufacturers in Detroit arranged a public demonstration against Japanese imports.
our parents would always take the side of the other person and assume that we were guilty before hearing our explanation of what had happened. I have been strongly loyal to my friends and business associates throughout my life as well. Probably in reaction to my childhood. Once I have decided that a person is my friend or colleague. When I was growing up. I will praise them to others and defend them if they are attacked. Learn From Experience This young experience taught me something that has been priceless in my own personal life. No matter what was said about us by others. including myself. From the birth of my first child. In addition. They are then amazed to find that they are seldom if ever promoted to positions of higher responsibility. Their disloyalty disqualifies them from any kind of advancement. at the slightest complaint or criticism from a neighbor or a teacher. It is amazing how many people work for one company but use the products and services of a competitor. I have devoted myself to practicing 100% unconditional loyalty to my children. you purchase and use the products and services of your company. I will stand by them almost indefinitely.company in the presence of other people. no matter what mistakes they made or what trouble they got into (and all children get into things when they are growing up). would turn on their children. my parents. as a result of their own difficult upbringings. and recommend them proudly to others. I will take any challenge to their Million Dollar Habits – Page 308 . It is essential that you be completely loyal to your spouse and to your children.
If this were the case. Imagine that there was a "Belief Store" just like a "Computer Store" in your neighborhood. the researchers found that they all had one particular belief in common. and your ability to succeed. and you could buy any belief that you wanted." Earlier in this book. Napoleon Hill wrote. what would be the best belief for you to purchase to program into your subconscious mind? In interviews with more than 500 successful men and women.character or personality of a friend or relative as if it were a personal attack on me. your self-concept. You could go down to this belief store and buy a belief and program it into your subconscious mind. and the fact that your deeply held beliefs become your realities. Each of them absolutely believed that they were destined to be great successes in life. I explained the Law of Belief. just as you would load a new computer program onto your hard drive. your level of persistence is the true measure of your belief in yourself. You always act in a manner consistent with the way you believe inside. They believed that everything that was happening to them in the short-term was part of a great plan to Million Dollar Habits – Page 309 . You should do the same. Never Give Up Another quality of character and leadership that seems to be indispensable for great success is the habit of persistence and determination. In my estimation. "Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to steel.
We know that your level of self-esteem. reinforces the other until you ultimately become unstoppable. They saw the world in terms of inevitable success and personal greatness. I emphasized the importance of self-discipline in developing the habits that lead you on to happiness. The truth is that persistence is self-discipline in action. lies at the core of your personality. Each reinforces the other. Earlier in this book. They held to this belief through every storm of life. health and great achievement. Each of these great men and women went onto accomplish wonderful things with their lives. how resilient you are in the face of adversity. how well you get along with other Million Dollar Habits – Page 310 . their beliefs became true. Each time you discipline yourself to persist. It eventually became unshakable. disillusionment. How much you like yourself determines how positive and optimistic you are. Each of them.ultimately make them successful. both your ability to discipline yourself in subsequent events and your strength of persistence increases. persistence and belief. how much you like and respect yourself. especially when you feel like quitting. The Big Payoff The good news is that the more you persist in the face of disappointment. The more you persist. the more you come to believe in yourself. setbacks. no matter what happens. obstacles and temporary failure. the more you will persist. the stronger you become as a person. the size of the goals that you set for yourself. And as a result. And the more you believe in yourself.
and almost everything that happens to you in your work and personal life. each time you discipline yourself to persist in the face of adversity. your self-esteem goes up. has a wonderful effect on your personality. regarding getting along well with others. Every act of self-discipline reinforces every subsequent act of self-discipline. of saying thank you to people. friendlier and more genial person. Every act of persistence reinforces every subsequent requirement for persistence. Self-esteem is the key to great personal success. We spoke about this attitude earlier. An attitude of gratitude causes you to be more sensitive and aware of people Million Dollar Habits – Page 311 . An Attitude of Gratitude The final habit for you to develop in becoming a truly excellent person is the habit of practicing an "Attitude of gratitude" in every part of your life. All three work together to develop within you the kind of character that makes you a leader in everything you do. how healthy you are. Every act of persistence and self-discipline builds your self-esteem. As it happens. You become stronger and more determined. The habit of feeling and expressing gratitude. and thank you to life in general. it means something more. for all of the things in your life that you should be grateful for. makes you stronger and makes you even more capable of disciplining yourself to persist in the future.people. You become happier and more confident. and wherever you go. An attitude of gratitude makes you a warmer. You like and respect yourself even more. As a part of character development.
The more gratitude you have. and the more popular and liked you are by all the people around you. your home. children Million Dollar Habits – Page 312 . you can find things for which you are truly grateful. In fact. No matter what your condition. Be Thankful For Everything Even in the midst of the greatest difficulties you will experience. and the great life that lies ahead of you. the more gratitude you express.around you. and your environment. can give you a page full of reasons to be truly grateful. sound. and you will not know where to stop. the better and more positive is your personality. You can be thankful for the functioning of your body and for the health of your limbs. taste. if you take a piece of paper and begin to write down the parts of your life for which you should be grateful. Look around you at your personal life. for the miracles of sight. Just sitting alone in your room. touch. Think about your physical body. car. the higher is your self-esteem. smell and feeling. you cannot help but be grateful. An attitude of gratitude gives you a great sense of happiness and inner satisfaction. you will be amazed at how many items appear on your list. clothes and other possession. you can be grateful for all of your senses. and the good qualities and actions of those people. When you begin making a list of every person in your life. Just thinking about the health and well being of the people you care about. Think of every material item in your world. your spouse. You can be grateful for the incredible gift of the life that you have lived up until now. thinking about your current blessings.
their coworkers. always seem to describe their successes in life by saying. their parents. in the latter years of his life was asked. "Life has been very good to me. could have made so many great contributions to so many sciences?" Million Dollar Habits – Page 313 . "How is it that you. their children. I have been so fortunate. including millionaires. amongst all men. associates and customers. and you will be amazed at how many things you have in your life for which you can be truly grateful. the songs you've heard and the foods you have eaten. the movies you've seen. Sir Isaac Newton." Virtually every successful person I have met attributes their success to other people. to their spouses. Think about the opportunities you have lying ahead of you. Look back over the years that have passed and look at the years ahead. the books you've read.and friends. who is ranked as one of the ten most important people in human history. the lessons you've learned. Think of the places that you have visited and the experiences that you have had in your travels and work. I have so many things to be grateful for. Your Great Good Fortune The most successful people I have met. will make up a list that goes on and on. and the qualities of their personalities. multi-millionaires and even billionaires. Think of the wonderful experiences you've had in the past. their friends.
We are where we are and what we are because of our habitual thoughts and actions. you change the outer aspects of your life. Men and women of great character. and what we are. by changing the inner attitudes of their minds. to become the kind of people that others look up to. because of ourselves. usually for many years. respect and admire." The Person You Are Perhaps the greatest breakthrough thought in my life was the discovery that each of us is where we are. "If I have accomplished anything worthwhile in life. can change the outer aspects of their lives. William James of Harvard once wrote. in every respect of the word. Action Exercises: Million Dollar Habits – Page 314 . You take complete control of your future. You become the very best person that you can imagine becoming. competence and leadership abilities are those who have worked on themselves. "self-made" people. "The greatest revolution of my generation is the discovery that individuals.Newton replied. you change the inner attitudes of your mind. thinking of all the great scientists who had preceded him and who worked for so many years before he came along. As a result. They are." When you go to work on yourself. There are no limits. and you practice the behaviors that you wish to incorporate into your personality and character. it was only because I stood on the shoulders of giants.
how would you change your life. those who cheer today will curse tomorrow. riches take wings. Create a vision for your ideal future." (Horace Greeley) Million Dollar Habits – Page 315 .1. Imagine yourself to be a person of complete honest and impeccable integrity. popularity an accident. only one thing endures – character. is there any behavior of yours that you would change? 6. What quality do you admire most in other people? How could you develop this quality in yourself? 2. if you had no fears at all? 5. What would you do differently. how would you like to be remembered and described by others when you are gone? 3. "Fame is a vapor. Imagine that you could write your own eulogy. or woman. and then practice the habits and behaviors that you would have if you were already that person. what would it look like? 4. How would you change your goals and actions if you learned that you had been guaranteed of great success sometime in the future? 7. Resolve today to become a great man. if you could wave a magic wand and make your life ideal in every way.
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