Issue # 37

To Your Success

March, 2007 

Our Mission:
To share practical knowledge and proven processes
that enable others to harness their natural power
and live to their full potential.

"The potential of the average person is like a huge ocean unsailed, a new continent unexplored, a world of possibilities waiting to be released and channeled toward some great good." ----- Brian Tracy"

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET

The lessons just never stop! Over and over I've found that about the time I feel I've really got things figured out, life throws another wrinkle at me … another layer of the onion is revealed. What always amazes me is that these wrinkles never come from way out in left field; they're often a wrinkle on a previous wrinkle and always completely consistent with what I've already learned. It's just that somehow during the learning process I missed something (often very obvious) that was there all along.

Here's a recent example, though the story begins many years ago.

When I was in my teens and early twenties I didn't have nearly as much self-confidence as it may have appeared … not real self-confidence that is. The fact is that my self-esteem and feelings of self-worth weren't all that healthy and I wasn't doing much with my life. At some point though, when I was in my mid to late twenties and with a young family, I woke up to the realization that if my life was ever going to get better it would have to be me that made it happen. I came face to face with responsibility; personal responsibility for all of my situations, who and what I was, and who and what I would ever become. It wasn't pretty and it wasn't fun.

But I made a commitment to myself at that time to begin to change.

Although short on formal education I became a reader. I dug into books like "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill, "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale, "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie, "Psycho Cybernetics" by Dr. Maxwell Maltz, and many others. I began to learn how incredibly important my thoughts were and that if I was really serious about changing my life for the better I would have to do a much better job of managing them. I learned that my attitude was a direct result of what I permitted myself to think. I also learned that my attitude was playing a HUGE role in what was happening to me, because my thoughts and attitudes were determining what I said and did, how people responded to me, and who and what I was attracting into my life.

In both my personal and professional life I practiced and implemented, as best as I could at the time, what I was learning. It wasn't easy at the beginning, in fact it was often pretty darn painful … but I persisted and soon began making progress. Before too long a new job was offered to me that presented a whole new level of opportunity. It was exciting and scary at the same time, and I found myself well out of my comfort zone, breaking new ground.

But here's where this little tale ties into our topic.

With this new job came a new boss, well two of them actually … they were partners in the business. And these two bosses, although very different from each other, had at least two things in common.

First, they truly believed that they had every right to be outrageously successful, and this belief was reflected in everything they said and did, and not surprisingly, in their results. Second, they saw in me far more potential than I had ever previously allowed ME to see in me. In their very different ways they treated me as though I already was that potential manifested.

Before very long, a combination of what I was learning and implementing from the books I was reading, this positive new environment, and my bosses' consistent expectations and beliefs in me, produced results. I began to succeed … and I succeeded in a way I'd never experienced before. And this in turn had a profound affect on me as a person. I was changing, growing, and each year my hunger for knowledge increased and the growth came faster and stronger.

Okay, I'll stop the story here. Except I will say that in the ensuing years (as I moved on to become a business owner myself) I came to deeply understand how each seemingly insignificant thought that's allowed to hang out in one's mind (whether positive or negative) inevitably becomes stronger and more powerful.

Every thought has the potential to develop into a thought habit that can seriously affect one's attitude, actions, beliefs and outcomes. Fortunately, by becoming reasonably skilled at managing MY thoughts, I was able to make very positive changes in my career and life.

Several years ago I sold my business interests and since then (who would've guessed), have been teaching on a full time basis what I've been a practicing student of for all these years. For me it is indescribably exciting and rewarding to see how the knowledge and techniques I'm sharing are so positively affecting people's lives.

But just the other day I discovered another wrinkle on a wrinkle. It was yet another Ahaa moment … and it hit me like a ton of bricks.

It struck me that although I had become pretty good at managing my thoughts in regards to myself and what I felt I had direct control of, I occasionally hadn't been doing such a good job when it came to others and I what I felt I DIDN'T have direct control of.

What brought this to light was reflecting on an arrangement I'd made some time ago with a business associate. Although this arrangement had some interesting possibilities for me personally, I went into it with very limited expectations, or to put it another way, with thoughts inconsistent with my desired outcomes.

Why? Because of past experiences.

You see, in our past dealings this person hadn't always followed through on commitments, so that was my reference point. I entered into the arrangement mostly because I liked this person and considered them a friend and although I had great enthusiasm for the project itself, upon reflection realize I had limited expectations of enjoying potentially positive outcomes for myself at the end of the day.

Sooo, what do you think happened? Of course, that's exactly how it worked out. My thoughts turned out to be a perfect match with the results.

And this is where my Ahaa moment comes in.

It finally hit me that I never gave the situation a fair chance. Sure, I fulfilled my physical commitment in this arrangement with great interest and passion … but still I did not really give it my best effort. I didn't honour this person by focusing only on the best of them, on who they have the potential to be. Instead, I looked for signs that they might be following the familiar pattern of 'good intentions' but 'no follow through'. And wouldn't you know it, that's what I saw. What a shame!

BUT, here's what's important. I LEARNED from this experience. Actually, I re-learned something I thought I had already learned years ago.

I re-learned the importance of ALWAYS focusing on my desired outcomes. I re-learned the value of seeing and focusing on the best of the other person, on what they are capable of being, of their potential. I re-learned that my thoughts and beliefs of another are somehow transferred to them, and very often those thoughts and beliefs become self-fulfilling prophecies. I re-learned what science, through the study of quantum physics, has been telling us for years now … that the observer affects what is being observed.

And I re-learned that my thoughts and expectations about ANYTHING determine my outcomes … that what I allow myself to consistently 'see' in my mind's eye is what I get in my life experience.

Now as you may know I'm big on sharing what I've learned with others to help shorten their learning curve … so hopefully YOU can gain something from my experience?

Are there areas of your life where you have thoughts or expectations that are inconsistent with what you would like to actually experience? Is there someone you are not seeing and treating as they have the potential to be ... maybe an employee, a co-worker, a family member … or even you?

Why not look for (and at) the best in everyone and give them the opportunity to show you that that's who they really are? Someone did that for me, and it helped change my life.

To your success,
Reg Neufeld

"Buried deep within each of us is a spark of greatness, a spark than can be fanned into flames of passion and achievement. That spark is not outside of you; it is born deep within you." ----- James A. Ray

PS - IMPORTANT MESSAGE: Watch for our upcoming ThoughtShop!

Are you ready now to move ahead in your life or career in big way? Then take a giant leap forward by enrolling in The ThoughtShop. This powerful life success and achievement workshop will help you clarify what you want to be, do and have in life, and give you the tools you need to make it happen.

We're now taking names of seriously interested persons for an upcoming ThoughtShop in the Fraser Valley beginning soon. Phone or email today to show your interest and be placed on the priority contact list. Don't miss it!

Growing Into Success Training
Ph: 604 793 8696
Fax: 604 792 7467
Email: reg@growingintosuccess.com
www.growingintosuccess.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE FOR YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE? You can as long as you include the following complete statement with it:

Reg Neufeld, founder of Growing Into Success Training, is a teacher of life success and achievement principles using practical, step-by-step processes that can help you get from where you are to where you want to be. If you're ready to take control and begin living a truly happy and successful life, get your FREE success tips now at www.growingintosuccess.com