Month: December 2014

Recommendation of the Month

New Year, New Me

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In preparation for the New Year, I have thought long and hard about what our next reading should be.  I wanted to ensure that the first selection of 2015 would be a book that would help you be the best you that only you could be. 

To make sure I selected correctly, I did a lot of homework.  Some of that homework included the following:

1.  Sought guidance from Brian Tracy regarding the 3 books that changed his life  http://youtu.be/py_GtDf2uJU

2.  Reviewed an interesting article and a few books from the leaders profiled in Success Magazine regarding the top Personal Development Leaders of 2014 http://www.success.com/mobilenodeview/22756

3.  Read not only the Introduction but the first chapters of my contenders

4.  Listened to suggestions from book reviews and interviews conducted on the Entreleadership podcast

And throughout the research I conducted,  it took a TV commercial and a website to bring me to my final decision.  I am so excited to bring this offering to you as I believe it is written in a manner that exemplifies where each of us living in 2014 are.  We are either pursuing or want to pursue a dream throughout the remainder of 2014 into 2015.  I think this book has so far provided a motivating factor to put me on a path to a better me and thus could do the same for you.

Now I am not one to jump on the bandwagon of the book of the moment nor do I see the purpose in paying someone to teach me things I know I should do but haven’t done.  There are sone areas that would drive me crazy if I had to listen to a seminar covering it.  And in the four years that I have owned my Kindle Fire, I have never paid more than $7.99 for a book.  But I found myself paying more for this one.

While I know it is brutally unfair, I am going to provide the name of this book recommendation after I have had more time to interact with the associated website.  I want to make sure that the site matches the chapters I have read thus far.

So until next time, I want to say thank you.  Thank you for allowing me to share my love of reading and my desire for growth with you.

Remember, we are Motivating and Inspiring ourselves to not just Dream but also to Achieve.  

I would love to hear from you, do you have a book suggestion for the Recommendation of the Month? Leave a comment and let me know.

Til next time,
“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” – Theodore Roosevelt

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Target Think Thursday

Target Think Thursday: The Final Chapter

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The final chapter is here.  Two weeks late but it is still upon us and I can’t help but feel a little sad that this journey into Think and Grow Rich is almost done.  I must admit I found this chapter to be chock full of wisdom and action planning that I felt Mr. Hill’s questions for reflection were the best way to close this post on our last chapter.  So I decided to pull out my favorite questions from the many he presented.

Before I post those questions I realized that I would re-read this chapter a few more times as I believe there is a lot more that can be learned about ourselves from this one chapter.  Hill is correct when he quotes the “Fifty-seven” famous alibis by Old Man If, “People who do not succeed have one distinguishing trait in common.  They know all the reasons for failure, and have what they believe to be air-tight alibis to explain away their own lack of achievement” – Napoleon Hill

I also found his steps to protect ourselves from negative influences applicable to today.  The six basic fears profiled also contain references which can be applicable in 2014 as we continue to deal with the implications of the recession.  With the reminder of the many ways this chapter is applicable today,  here are my favorite Napoleon Hill SELF-ANALYSIS TEST QUESTIONS:

1.  To which do you devote the most time, thinking of SUCCESS, or of FAILURE?

2.  Who has the most inspiring influence upon you? What is the cause?

3.  Do you tolerate negative or discouraging influences which you can avoid?

4.  Are you careless of your personal appearance? If so, when and why?

5.  Do you have a DEFINITE MAJOR PURPOSE, and if so, what is it, and what plan have you for achieving it?

6.  Has today added anything of value to your stock of knowledge or state of mind?

As I strive toward the achievement of my goals, I feel it would be an invaluable learning experience to answer each of the questions presented in this chapter.  I have learned so much about myself along this journey with you.  I look forward to our next reading. 
Til next time,
The ability to convert ideas to things is the secret to outward success – Henry Ward Beecher

Target Think Thursday

Target Think Thursday: Chapter 14 The Sixth Sense

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The sixth sense is an intuition, a feeling, a sense of deja vu.  This chapter details the benefits which can be had if we would just trust our instincts and don’t shake off our gut feelings.  How many times have we had a feeling that something was going to happen and when it does, you get that feeling as if it has happened before.  That’s what Mr. Hill is referring to as our sixth sense.  It’s a feeling that when followed can lead to some great opportunities but when ignored it can lead to regret.

Here are my top Two Favorite quotes from Chapter 14:
“The depression was a blessing in disguise. It reduced the whole world to a new starting point that gives every one a new opportunity” – Napoleon Hill.  One of the reasons I prefer this quote is that it reminds me that even today as we deal with the impact the recession has had on our society, that there are many more resources available for us to not only pursue new opportunities but to also make our own opportunities.

“One of the blessings of maturity is that it sometimes brings one greater courage to be truthful, regardless of what those who do not understand, may think or say” –  When you get to a certain age, you stop caring what others think and you begin to focus on making sure you living life according to your own rules, beliefs, and ideas. Also, by the time you reach your forties most of your children are of an age in which they can take care of themselves while you pursue other interests.

Here are our questions for reflection for Chapter 14:
1.  The principle referred to as the apex of the philosophy can only be understood by what?  Do you understand this principle?

2.  While the invisible counselor principle may be hard to accept, is there a way you can revise this principle for the benefit of your personal goal attainment?

3.  Birth, gender, race, and height are all variables out of our control but the voluntary rebirh method discussed can allow for us to begin again.  What would you do right now to correct the things of the past which may be holding you back right now and in the process improve your personal character?

4.  The author discusses the act of self-suggestion (which I prefer to classify as affirmations) is a powerful method for building character.  Identify three affirmations associated with character traits you would like to possess and then repeat to yourself each day.

5.  The author held imaginary council meetings in order to build off the strengths of men he admired.  In today’s society we learn from mentors.  Can you identify any persons you can build a mentorship relationship with in order to learn from them?

6.  The author used a quote from Abraham Lincoln regarding adversity – What did he say?  What has been the impact of adversity on your life?

7. What are the six fears indicated in this chapter?  Which of the six are your top 2?  What can you do to move past these fears?

Application step:  Reread the six fears and look up their definitions.  Do you possess the character traits these fears depict?  What is the impact of their presence on your life?  If not positive, make some decisions as to what you must do to change your life.

Til next time,

“Action is the foundational key to all success” – Pablo Picasso