MIND POWER FORUM

There is a story of an elementary school teacher many years ago named Mrs.Thompson.

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."

Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."

Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter" ... and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one", and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

Author : Unknown
I remember the night in Miami when our son, Ian, was just five years old. We were staying with relatives and it was his bedtime. When I looked at the living room floor, I knew we had a problem. Toys were all over the place. "Ian," I said, "you need to pick up all those toys before you go to bed."

"Daddy," he said, "I'm too tired to pick up my toys."

My immediate inclination was to force him to clean up the room. Instead, I went into the bedroom, laid down, and said, "Ian, come here. Let's play Humpty Dumpty."
He climbed up on my knees and I said, "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall." And he fell. Ian laughed and said, "Let's do it again."

Well, after the third "fall," I said, "Okay, but first go pick up those toys."Without thinking, he ran into the living room and in ninety seconds he finished a job that could have taken half an hour.

Then he jumped back on my knees and repeated, "Daddy, let's do it again.""Ian, I thought you were too tired to pick up those toys." He answered, "I was, daddy, but I just wanted to do this!"We can finish any job when we have the "Want to!"
Have you created the "Want to" in your life? If you haven't what are you waiting for?

There's a thin line between "Phenomenal Success" & "Just Made It". That line is your "Want to".

A True Story
A man at a metro station in Washington started to play violin;
He played for about 45 minutes.
During that time, thousands of people went by.
A man stopped for a while and moved on.
The violinist received his first dollar tip:
A woman threw coins and walked away.
The most attention was paid by a 3 year old boy.
His mother pushed hard and the boy had to walk away.
This was repeated by several other children.
In the 45 minutes only 6 people stopped .
He collected $32. When he finished , no one noticed .
No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew that the violinist was Joshua Bell, the best violinist in theworld.
He played with a violin worth $ 3.5 million .
Two days before , Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seatsaverage $100.
He got a standing ovation.
Joshua Bell playing incognito was organized by Washington Post as part ofan experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people.
Conclusions from this experience was:If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musiciansin the world, how many other things are we missing?
Albert Einstein did not speak until he was 4-years-old and did not read until he was 7. His parents thought he was "sub-normal," and one of his teachers described him as "mentally slow, unsociable, and adrift forever in foolish dreams."He was expelled from school and was refused admittance to the Zurich Polytechnic School.He did eventually learn to speak and read. Even to do a little math.

If asked you to name someone you thought was a great leader, who would you pick? John Wooden? Abraham Lincoln? Your grandmother? You have reasons for your selection. What are they? What makes that person a great leader? Too often we know a great leader when we see one, but less often are we able to pinpoint what makes it so. It’s worth taking the time to define the qualities of the person you selected as a great leader, and determine how you can incorporate those qualities into your own leadership. Every one of us is different, so we will be different leaders, but there are core essentials that need to be well-developed to create a great leader. I believe there are 6 essential areas to being a great leader:
1) Know your own leadership style. Are you a take-charge person who can get things done regardless of barriers? A planner who is skilled with the details of a large project? Spontaneous and creative, but struggle with deadlines and timetables? Do you prefer a low-key, slow-paced environment? Who we are naturally will determine how we will lead others. By default, we will lead others the way we prefer to be led. If we are spontaneous and not a planner, we will do things spur of the moment; some people cannot thrive in that environment. If we are a take-charge person and fast-paced, we’ll find some people need more processing time than we will give. So we must know what our own leadership style is and how to adjust it to create a culture where all can thrive.
2)Understand whether you’re a manager or a leader. What’s the difference? An analogy from Stephen Covey asks you to imagine there is a large group of people on the ground, and a ladder leaning against a tall building. Everyone must climb the ladder to get to the top of the building. The MANAGER makes sure the ladder is secured, rungs are in good repair, people ascend safely, etc. The LEADER makes sure the ladder is leaning against the right building - so the group ends up where they need to be. The LEADER determines what the goal is - why the people need to be at the top of the building. Do you sometimes have to work in both roles? Probably, but it’s important we stay focused on our primary role.

3)Promote Succession Planning. What is succession planning? Until recently, it has been defined as identifying and planning for the next CEO. But today, succession planning has a whole new meaning as we anticipate a mass exodus of leadership - as the Baby Boomers are retiring, it is estimated that by 2018, 60% of current leadership will be gone. So even if you’re a new leader, you need to already begin to develop new leadership right alongside you. It’s a great time in history for new leaders, because promotional possibilities are much greater than ever before. You may not stay in your leadership role very long, and you need to be intentional about preparing someone to step in.

4)Understand that “It’s All About Relationships.” This is so fundamental, and yet one area that leaders neglect the most. There are 3 reasons why everything in the marketplace really is all about relationships:
People leave managers, not organizations. Staff retention, morale, productivity, and effectiveness are tied more to the relationship they have with their direct supervisor than on any other factor.
People buy from and work for people they trust. You can’t build a high level of trust without focusing on building positive relationships at all levels.
People work at peak for those who help them rise to their potential. ”People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” If you provide the support needed for a person rise to his or her potential, you have discovered the greatest key to that person performing at their peak abilities.

5)Promote Effective Communication. An organization knows when they do not have effective communication, but often doesn’t know how to create it. Traditional communication methods are important, and should be used effectively. But there are particular events that are typically neglected that should be a strong focus for strong, positive communication, including:
Performance evaluations. New leaders, especially, are often not equipped with skills to conduct effective performance evaluations. The leader must feel confident during the evaluation process and have a tool that is effective.
Staff discipline. Sometimes staff discipline is necessary, but often can be avoided with good mentoring and communication concerning regarding the job description, expectations, and frequent feedback.
Multiple generations in the workforce. For the first time in history, we have four different generations in our workforce, which creates exciting possibilities, as well as unique challenges. You’re probably heard “the younger generation has no work ethic,” or “senior management needs to come into the 21st century.” These are common comments, and the leader must understand the generations, their characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, unique needs, and how all four can be utilized to the greatest effectiveness of the organization.
6)Develop an Effective Professional Image. How others perceive you is how you are in their mind; their perception is their reality. If they perceive you as trustworthy, to them you are. And if they perceive that you are not, you are not. The critical link here is that your professional effectiveness with that person is directly linked to their perception. You already have an image, whether you know what it is or not, and it speaks louder than your words. As you assess the other 5 areas for yourself, this sixth area becomes a natural conclusion and easier to understand. Take your leadership style, for example, and determine your strengths and weaknesses - what about your style contributes positively to your professional image? What does not? What would you like to change? Think about your skills as a communicator, and determine what areas you’d like to strengthen there, which has a direct correlation to your professional image.

In life, and in business, there are only a few fundamentals that make life work out well, and they have never changed. Too often we pretend that technology and education have created "new rules" or that modern systems permit us to cut corners and find short-cuts that didn't exist in the past. While there may be examples where that is true, in general, I don't believe it.

On his first day, as President, Abraham Lincoln entered to give his inaugural address, just in the middle, one man stood up. He was a rich aristocrat. He said, "Mr.Lincoln, you should not forget that your father used to make shoes for my family". And the whole Senate laughed; they thought they had made a fool of Abraham Lincoln.

But Lincoln - and that type of people are made of totally different mettle, looked at the man and said, "Sir, I know that my father used to make shoes for your family, and there will be many others here ........because the way he made shoes: nobody else can. He was a creator. His shoes were not just shoes, he poured his whole soul into it. I want to ask you, have you any complaint? Because I know how to make shoes myself; if you have any complaint I can make another pair of shoes. But as far as I know, nobody has ever complained about my father's shoes. He was a genius, a creator and I am proud of my father".

The entire Senate was struck dumb. They could not understand what kind of man Abraham Lincoln was. He had made shoe making an art, a creativity. And he was proud because his father did the job so well that not even a single complaint had ever been heard.

There is something about "new" that keeps our thoughts occupied with new resolutions, new dreams, new hopes, new plans and new wishes. New Year gives a perfect starting point for opening the next chapter of our life and making it better and brighter than the previous one.

Unfortunately not all of our dreams and desires become reality. Keeping the initial enthusiasm and motivation over the long period of time is often tough. If you have made resolutions last year you probably know how difficult it is to stay committed to them.

The reason why so many people give up on their New Year's resolutions almost as quickly as they make them is simple.

While resolutions for the New Year give us a wonderful sense of positive intent, they are extremely hard to stick with unless we turn them into clear, well-defined goals.

Here are some goal setting tips that will help you to stay on track with your resolutions and make the upcoming year unforgettable:

1. Get It Right The First Time

Before trying to formulate any actual long-term goal for the next year have a 'mind dump'. It's a great and simple way of getting a lot of ideas out of your head, clear your mind and get a good view of your plans, decisions, and wishes.

Devote at least 20 minutes of your uninterrupted time to brainstorm. Sit down and relax. Take a piece of paper and write down whatever goals come to your mind. Don't analyze anything. Just write it down. Big or small. Simple desires or life changes. Everything you wish you had gotten to, but didn't. Anything you wanted for a long time, but never had enough time, courage, or persistence to follow through.

2. Pick Your Goal!

Take a look at the goals that you have written down... Are any of your resolutions unrealistic? What is the most important goal for you at the moment?

I'm sure that there are many goals that you would like to accomplish, but only few of them will have the biggest impact on your life this year.

Which goal is it? Is it something that can be achieved in one year? Or will it require more time? If it is a long term goal that will take several years to achieve, you might want to break it down into smaller goals that you can accomplish in less that a year. Otherwise, there is a high chance of losing motivation and initial momentum.

3. Concentrate Your Efforts On JUST ONE Goal

Don't set a lot of different goals at the same time. Although it may seem like a good idea to divide your focus, time and energy between multiple goals, in reality it is counter-productive.

When you set a goal - you make a decision to stay committed to it. If you are pursuing a lot of goals at the same time, you aren't committed to any of them. You're just going with the flow, hoping that you'll find time to squeeze everything into your already busy schedule. But what you do in reality is lose control of your time and let outside circumstances dictate your life.

One goal gives you clarity and focus. Ten goals create chaos and confusion.

If you want to succeed in achieving your goal next year, chose just one goal at a time and stick to it until it is 100% complete. Then pick the next one.

I know that we want to have everything right this moment. Most of us are impatient by nature. But think about this: It is much better to achieve one major goal than set 10 goals and fail to accomplish any of them!

4. Create Your Mantra

Once you've chosen your goal, turn it into a personal statement. And then turn it into something more than a statement - make it your own mantra or a verbal formula that is continuously repeated in your mind.

Make sure that you make your goal as detailed and clear as possible. There is a great way to check if your goal is stated correctly. Look at your goal "from the distance". Forget that you have written these words just a few hours ago. Imagine that you see this statement for the first time, because your friend wants to know your opinion on it. Do you have any questions? Or maybe you would like to clarify a few things? If so, make adjustments to your goal, until it is 100% clear to everyone who reads it for the first time.

After that put copies of your goal on an index card, make it your desktop wallpaper, post it in the car or right next to your bathroom mirror or next to your computer at work.

Ensure that your goal is always at a forefront of your mind. Repeat it out loud every single day. Make your goal a center of your focus.

This will help you to keep your motivation and excitement high throughout the day.

5. Decide On An Action Plan

Many people fail to achieve their goals not because they lack desire or enthusiasm, but because they fail to plan their success out.

Goals are not simple items on your to-do list. They can't be done overnight. Any worthwhile goal requires sustained effort and energy over the long period of time. Without a well-thought action plan it is almost impossible to carry big goals out.

If you want to noticeably improve your chances of success - plan specific actions that will lead you to the desired result. Your goal should be your compass that will point you into the right direction.

Your action plan is a detailed map that with the baby steps will take you to your destination point. Action plan also helps you to monitor your progress, while giving you a sense of accomplishment and making the whole process seem a lot easier.

6. Make Your Success Inevitable

Even if the goal that we have chosen sounds really appealing, it doesn't mean that we will stick to it. When it comes to doing actual work, our motivation disappears with a speed of light.

Here is a quick example. Having a beautiful, toned and slim body is a very inspirational goal. We all want to be healthy and look great. However, getting up early in the morning to run 1 mile, denying ourselves things we love to eat, changing our lifestyle sounds much less appealing. At this point we have to consciously force ourselves into doing all these things to get the end result that we want.

Of course, if you have an iron will and unbending self-discipline, you will achieve your goal anyways. But if you are like me, you probably won't torture yourself for a long period of time. Fortunately, there is a way how you can accomplish anything you desire, without having to force yourself into doing something.

All you have to do is set up the right conditions and let things happen for themselves.

For example, if you want to get more exercise, you can find a friend who wants to get back in shape and offer him/her to exercise together. Or set up an appointment with a personal trainer at the gym. He will stay by your side the whole time and you will more likely do your best. Or you can make a deal with your spouse that every workout that you'll skip, you'll give him/her $40.

Leave yourself no escape from achieving your goal. What conditions can you set up to make your success inevitable? With a little imagination and support of your friends and family you can accomplish any goal!

7. Build On Your Success

No matter what goal you have decided to pursue, there is only one way to achieve it - take a first step and build on your success gradually.

There is no way around it. You can't become a multi-millionaire without making your first million. You can't get in shape and have a gorgeous looking body, without doing the first workout. You can't write a book, without writing the first chapter.

Whatever you want to accomplish you must do something every single day towards making your wish reality.

Even if you do just a little bit. Something that doesn't require a lot of your time of effort, but you do it DAILY, you will achieve even your most daring goals.

Don't let a single day go by without "incrementally" adding to an accomplishment of your goal. Consistency is the most important factor of success. Not motivation, not knowledge, not your skills - but consistency.

When we are first faced with everything we must do in order to achieve our goal it is easy to feel overwhelmed. When a goal seems too difficult to accomplish we often procrastinate, preferring to postpone hard work for later. The problem with it is that "later" may never come.

The only moment when you can change or do something is NOW. Don't delude yourself with self-justifications that it is ok to skip today, if you do twice the work the next day. Deep down you know that it is just another story that you are telling yourself.

January 1st is a great starting point to change your life for the better. Make no excuses next year! Do something that will take you closer to your goal every single day. Even a tiny step towards your goal creates momentum and boosts motivation. And it is a step that you will never have to take again.