WHERE TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES.

The dictionary says that opportunity is a “fit or convenient time; a time favorable for the purpose; suitable time combined with other favorable circumstances.” 

For generations, success gurus have been saying that opportunity lies in the person and not in the job.  That’s validated by the fact that legal immigrants, regardless of where they come from, are four times as likely to become millionaires as are those people who are born in America, despite the fact that they frequently start with minimum-wage jobs, sub-standard housing and often do not speak English.  One of the major reasons for the immigrants’ success, generally speaking, is that they regard America as the land of opportunity, so they arrive with great expectations and immediately go to work to make the American Dream a reality.  Its just like people move away from a location expecting their problems will be left behind, only to find they have followed them.  

Lord Stanley said that “opportunity, sooner or later, comes to all who work and wish.”  I would add the word “expect” to the end of Stanley’s statement.  That means that we keep our eyes open and our minds working to take advantage of those opportunities which come our way.  One interesting observation is that opportunity frequently comes dressed in work clothes and there are far too many people who turn it down because of the costume it wears. I like a definition of the word success that I came across a while ago.  Someone defined it as opportunity.  The ability to not only notice but act on the things around them.  

John B. Gough said, “If you want to succeed in the world, you must make your own opportunities as you go.  The man who waits for some seventh wave to toss him on dry land will find that the seventh wave is a long time arriving.  You can commit no greater mistake than to sit by the roadside until someone comes along and invites you to ride with him to wealth or influence.”  How true it is!  Think about it – take advantage of the countless opportunities which surround each of us, and ignite the fire within.

www.fraserstirling.co.nz 

Making the Day...making the week better

It is so easy to get tied up and get buried under all the have to for the day and week. Today I thought I would share some ideas to make the most of today and the week and to make it even better.

What are you doing right now to further your highest-priority goals?

1. Write it down. You’ve heard it before, but the truth is writing down your goals forces you to get clear about what you want. Use a pen and paper (you can transfer it to your computer later). That simple physical act helps cement the desire in your brain. The more time you spend on this the better...make it clear. Remember to use present tense.

2. Find a replacement. In The Compound Effect, Darren Hardy explains one way to break a bad habit is to replace it with a good one. What can you choose to add to your life that will fill the void left by eliminating a bad habit? For example, replace TV time with family time, candy with fresh fruit, talk radio with inspiring audios. Jack Canfield also uses this concept in the success principles.

3. Tell someone. Talking about your goal—or sharing with others to encourage and help you by providing resources and information you may need. Napoleon Hill calls this the mastermind team. Get a group pf 4 people and hold each other accountable.

4. Take baby steps every day. Just like Bill Murray in What About Bob, even small steps taken toward your goal consistently will move you in the right direction. Once you experience a few small wins, taking bigger steps becomes easier.

5. Take BIG steps, too. Don’t take all year to do what you can accomplish in a day. Once you’ve written down your list of goals for the year, figure out which goals could be accomplished this month—or even today.

Make sure you take steps daily...momentum.

2011..what will you do?

For those of you who know me well know that I spend a lot of time reflecting on where I have been and what I can to to make it better.

Therefore for the New year I thought I would share an idea of what you could do to reflect on 10 and look ahead to 11.

Have fun and make it the best ever.

Here's to the New Year
May it be a great one.

Try This End of Year Exercise...


As we approach the New Year, it is a valuable practice to set aside some personal time to look back on 2010 and assess where we have been, and to look ahead at 2011 and lay out where we are going. I have created the following exercises to help you walk through this reflective process, and hope you make the commitment to yourself to complete it. Enjoy!

2010 Assessment
What are your disappointments, failures, and breakdowns?

Let's acknowledge what these items are. All failures are feedback. This is an opportunity to learn from them and let them go, or carry them forward and make a new promise or commitment. Reverend Michael Beckwith offers three strategies for change to keep in mind:

* Accept what is
* Harvest the good
* Forgive all the rest

What are your successes, wins, and accomplishments?

This is a chance to celebrate and own who you have become this year. Where did you step into your power and greatness? Please don't skimp on these. The little stuff counts. No modesty allowed. Let's validate all your accomplishments. You might want to look through your organizer and any of your files to help remind you. Remember to looks at your accomplishments in all the aspects of your life, such as:

* Health
* Relationships
* Finances
* Career/Creative expression
* Spirituality

What have you learned about yourself and your life? What insights have you gained?

True insights have the transformational capability of shifting us into a new, more alive place. As we are blessed with insights, it is important to nurture and deepen these new understandings. Inventory your learnings in the last year in the following categories:

* Growth in understanding
* New perspectives
* Letting go
* Shifts in beliefs

What are you grateful for?

This list might include some of the above, as well as things you truly appreciate about the people, the things, and the circumstances in your life last year. And don’t forget to include the things you appreciate about yourself. There is a basic principle: whatever you appreciate and give thanks for will increase in your life.

How will you celebrate and honor 2010?

This is an opportunity to do something that honors all you have done, been through, and grown this past year. What’s something special that you would like to do for yourself? What would be a powerful way to celebrate? What would be fun? Celebrating is a way to bring completion, and there are countless ways to do it. The key is to choose something, plan it, and do it.


2011 New Year Creation

This is your vision or dream for 2011. Picture yourself one year from today, one year into the future, having had an incredible year. Think about what kinds of things might have happened during the past year, and what it was like for you. Now write a short story about who you were and what you accomplished in 2011, as if you were writing it at the end of 2011.

Some things you might include:

* What was the year like for you?

* What did you feel energy and excitement around?

* What did you accomplish? What did you get? What did you do? Who were you being?

* Who was in your life and who was not?

* Where are you financially?

* Where are you spiritually?

* What has changed in your physical environment?

* What were the big fun things you did?

* What is the condition of your career?

* How is your love life?

* What’s one outrageous or wacky element to your vision?

* What did you let go of?

* What did you take less seriously?

* What old rules or limiting beliefs did you eliminate?

Include anything else you might think of that stands out for the year. When finished, print a copy, seal it in an envelope, and file it somewhere in your home or office for you to read in one year. Mark down on your calendar one year from today where you have filed this envelope, so you can find it and read it on that day. And have fun with this.

As always, I’m here to support you in your journey, and would enjoy knowing how you’re doing and get any feedback you may have


Fraser