Thought for the Day

When the heart weeps for what it has lost, the spirit laughs at what it has found.
Sufi Aphorism

Inspirational Bookstore

Over the next few weeks, I'll be compiling a list of inspirational books and music that have empowered individuals, awakened the imagination and fed the soul.

Check out the list so far in the Creative Mentors Bookstore.

Selling the Impossible

In the late 90s, Dr Evoy, a Canadian physician developed a specialised investment software product which he knew would be "virtually impossible to sell" and that cost 1000 dollars.

He set himself the challenge to create a website that would be effective at encouraging people to buy the little known product.

In two years, he sold all 1000 copies of his software at $1000 each by developing the ultimate internet marketing techniques.

Now he teaches other people to create something out of nothing through his webhosting service, Sitesell.com

Over the past two weeks, I have been looking at the ingredients of success. So far I've observed that successful people never give up and don't know the meaning of the word impossible.

They also diversify, expand and never stop progressing once they reach a certain platform of success. For example, Dr Evoy teaches emergency medicine at McGill University, created a successful toy design business, taught golf, and coached baseball before eventually becoming one of the top internet gurus who has led many webmasters to success.

For me, I think the true meaning of success is defined by people who enjoy and celebrate their achievements, no matter how small and insignificant they may seem to others.

After all, what is the point of having a billion dollars if you're not enjoying it?

Impossible Dreams

I read this story a couple months ago on the blog Eric's Tips.

At 20 years old, Ladan Lashkari is a top internet marketing expert with over 20 websites which include newsletter publishing tips and self-improvement. She makes a profitable living from her online businesses in spite of many challenges and obstacles she faces such as not being able to have a credit card or merchant account or travel outside her country.

The ingredients of success in her case appear to be persistence, perseverance and immense positivity in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

In the book, Think and Grow Rich, the author Napoleon Hill said that he once removed the word 'impossible' from a dictionary. According to the article in Eric's Tips, Ladan Lashkari seems to share this philosophy. And in the past few weeks, when studying stories of success, I've discovered that many of the people who've realised great ambitions did not seem to know the meaning of the word 'impossible'.

But there are many people who dream big dreams but are not able to manifest them. So what is the ingredient that separates the fanciful Don Quixote style dreamers from those who actually realise their big ambitions?

I shall endeavour to find out.

Read the inspiring article about Ladan Lashkari.

The 7 Rules of Success

When striving to turn a big ambition into a reality, it can be helpful and inspiring to read about other people who have already achieved success (and who - most importantly - are HAPPY with what they have achieved).

It can be particularly inspiring to read about all the odds they had to overcome, all the setbacks, obstacles and difficulties they experienced before they attained success - especially if you may be on the verges of giving up.

In the book, The Seven Rules of Success, top Life Coach, Fiona Harrold, explores and interviews people who have achieved great success in diverse areas of life.

She identifies 7 factors which helped these people on their journey to success:

1) Passion about what they are doing
2) Great self-belief
3) Doing more & more
4) Being prepared to take risks
5) Being able to inspire others
6) Perserverance
7) Generosity

The 7 Rules of Success features about 28 success stories and is an inspiring and insightful read.

The Dark Side of Success

"So, Charlie, do you know what happened to the boy who suddenly got everything he ever wanted?" asked Mr Wonka, ominously in the movie Mr Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (Gene Wilder version).
"What?" asked Charlie, a little anxiously.
"He lived happily after," said Mr Wonka.

But what really does happen to people who suddenly get everything they ever wanted?

It is rare in life to hear of people who live "happily ever after" once they have achieved great success. On the contrary, great success is sometimes accompanied by a spectacular downfall.

People tend to equate success with fame and wealth. But so many talented people who have achieved fame and wealth both in the past and in today's society have been depressed or have developed addictions because fame and wealth have not lived up to their expectations or met their needs.

A lot of young people these days say, "I want to be famous" without having any idea what they want to be famous for. And it's quite easy to get famous today in the world of Reality TV. It is even easier to become infamous.

Keira Knightley is considering quitting acting because she finds fame too intrusive.

Britney Spears is recovering from a very public meltdown.

It begs the question: why would anyone want to be successful?

It doesn't only happen to celebrities. You may land the dream job you always thought you wanted. And things go well at first. But after the initial celebration when you settle down into your new life, you think - "What now?" or "There's got to be something more to life than this".

That is why important to know WHY you want to achieve what you want to achieve so that when you get it, you don't think, "Is this it? Why did I want this?"

Once you achieve and manifest a goal, toast your achievement, celebrate, maybe have a rest - and then create another goal. It could be a completely different kind of goal, in another sphere of interest entirely. If you have achieved a financial goal, you may want to create a goal which enables you to help others or your new goal may be to downshift or create a better quality of life.

"Be careful what you wish for" has always been a scary phrase for me. Looking at the purpose of our wishes is a helpful way to avoid meeting the dark side of success.

This month's theme: SUCCESS

Over the past couple of months I have been exploring the themes of perseverance, setting and achieving goals.

This month I will be exploring the theme of SUCCESS and ambition.

What happens after people have manifested their goals? How do they deal with their success?
I also hope to include inspiring stories about people who have achieved great success in spite of emormous obstacles, difficulties and setbacks.

Visit this blog again for more about living with, coping with or embracing success.

Thought for the Day: Success

Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get.
~Author Unknown