It was so wonderful to be able to share my story of my Tanzania journey with you, and I thank you for all your responses – I’m so glad that so many of you were moved by the account. Now, I have the opportunity to invite you to join me on the same trip this year, July 3rd through 10th, 2011. Please watch the video to learn more.
Monthly Archives: June 2011
What George Clooney Can Teach Us About Gratitude
Most people would love to have the bank accounts of today’s A-list celebrities. Earning millions of dollars while doing work you love sure has appeal. But before you let jealousy set in or criticize others for having money, answer this: “Why aren’t more ‘average’ people able to emulate the success of celebrities?” No, it has nothing to do with acting talent or singing ability (you can earn millions doing virtually anything). The real reason why most people aren’t earning what they want is because they don’t have the correct money mindset — the mindset that many celebrities seem to have mastered.
Contrary to what you might think, at the core of this money mindset is the concept of giving. And if you think about it, this giving concept makes perfect sense. After all, when a natural disaster hits or when an organization is in need, we often hear stories of celebrities coming forward and donating money, doing performances for charity, or giving of themselves in some way. And it’s no coincidence that the celebrities we hear doing the most are also the ones earning the most. These celebrities prove that the more you give, the more you get. You can easily follow their lead.
For example, Richard Branson is doing what he loves. As a child, he wanted to be a mogul. Today he is and he loves it. In my work as a life coach, I find that he is the exception to the rule. He decided up front to make his work fun and he committed to giving back. As he says, “With extreme wealth comes extreme responsibility. And the responsibility for me is to invest in creating new businesses, create jobs, employ people, and to put money aside to tackle issues where we can make a difference.” For over 40 years, Branson has been creating new business ventures and has stayed on top.
George Clooney is another example of a “mogul” who knows how to give back and have fun. He has one of the most charitable hearts in Hollywood, and, alongside his current mission to stop the human rights atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan, Clooney has been known to give generous donations to homeless people, is a supporter of Bono’s poverty-fighting ONE Campaign, and is also on the Board of Trustees for the United Way.
So take a lesson from these celebrities, because when you understand the importance of giving back, it will literally change your financial life. But does this mean you have to give away every cent you earn to attract more money into your life? Of course not. It simply means you need to start looking at money and why you want it in new ways.
Know What You Want and Why
Can you imagine yourself a millionaire? Of course you can. There are millions of millionaires. In order to build your fortune, you must have desire. But desire alone is not good enough. You also have to know what outcome you want to have, why you are doing whatever it is you are doing, and why you want the money. Once you can answer those questions, you can get started on wealth creation.
To that end, I want to share with you a simple, five-part goal mindset, which will help you get clear on what you truly want (even financially) and why you want it. Whether your goal is to become a millionaire, open a business, or just become a better person, this is how you turn your dream into an actionable goal.
Complete each of the following sentences:
- I want…
- I want it because…
- The outcome will be…
- My action steps are…
- My gratitude for the journey and what I’m GIVING to the world…
While these statements may seem simple, your answers will profoundly affect your results. For example, I don’t think anyone ever imagined that one day we would be spending most of our time on the computer, talking with people we’ve never met, answering emails from all over the world, and posting pictures of events and family on a web page for the world to see and comment upon — but one person did and now he’s worth billions. He had an idea and turned it into his passion. He knew what he wanted his outcome to be and why he wanted it. I don’t think even Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, knew how big a dream he was creating, but the universe did. When you have a big dream that is coming from a good place and you take action each day, the universe will conspire to help you.
But in order for the money to come, you must tame your impostors — those false sides of you that cause you to sabotage your efforts and repeat negative behavior patterns. When most people come up with their “next big idea,” their impostors start immediately building a case against them. Suddenly, your thoughts turn into a negative campaign that you are fighting against. Unfortunately, most people can’t take the negativity, and so they quit. The ones who do the internal work reap the rewards.
By curbing the negative talk diatribe by your scared Impostor, you will soon be aware of increased creativity and productivity on a daily basis. Understand, this won’t be easy. Breaking a pattern is hard. But stay on it, and your bank account will grow. It goes back to the old saying, “Change your thoughts, and you change your life.”
Right now, I want you to write down your top ten strongest negative statements your impostors are screaming in your head about money, and then I want you to write your authentic soul’s reply. For example:
When your Impostor says… Your Authentic Soul replies…
I can’t. I can.
I’m too old. I am the perfect age.
I fear that… I am fearless.
It’s too risky. If I can dream it, I can do it.
I don’t have the time. I have all the time I need.
It’s too challenging to… It’s a great opportunity to…
I’m sure someone else is doing it already. I have my unique angle.
I’m too fat. I’m a perfect weight & getting thinner each day.
I don’t have the energy to… I am filled with an abundance of energy.
I’m not smart enough. I am smart and resourceful.
You Are Worthy of Wealth
It’s hard to talk about money without mentioning Donald Trump. Mr. Trump is a good example of someone who not only has a millionaire mindset, but a billionaire mindset. He has lost and made millions of dollars in business. Defeat is not an option for him. He has set a standard for himself and he works hard to stay focused on his goals.
When you want to manifest money, it’s important to know that the money and opportunities are right in front of your face. In order to see them, you have to believe you are worthy of wealth.
Are you worthy? Answer these questions:
1. What do you think money can give you?
2. Why are you not worthy of it?
3. Now write why you ARE worthy of it.
When you adopt the money mindset many celebrities have–namely living by the concepts of giving to others, knowing what you want and why, and believing you are worthy–you can attract wealth into your life. Remember that celebrities are regular people just like you. And if they can earn millions, you can too.
Self-Confidence: 4 Ways To Build It So You Can Live the Life of Your Dreams
No matter what you want to do in life — whether you want to be an Academy-Award-winning actor, a CEO of a big company, a sought-after speaker or the winner of a marathon — having self-confidence is essential for your success. Without a healthy dose of confidence, you’ll never take the steps needed to make your dream come true. That’s why, before embarking on any endeavor, you need to build up your confidence level and know you are worthy of what you desire.
When I was in my early 20s, I met Pete Wilson, a politician who was running for governor of California. I asked him how he got the drive and stamina to run for office. After all, political races are so vicious, and you have to really believe in yourself and want to make changes in order to go through what politicians go through.
Mr. Wilson said, “You yourself have to think you’re great, because no one else is going to tell you that you are.” His words are so true! To live the life of your dreams and do whatever it is you want to do, you have to first build your own self-confidence and not depend on or wait for anyone else’s approval.
Remember, how you see yourself and what you believe about yourself is more important than what anyone else thinks. If you don’t work at loving, accepting and believing in yourself, then your fears will paralyze you. Being happy and fulfilled, and having your heart filled with peace, starts with you. It’s an inside job.
Following are four steps that can help you build your self-confidence.
1. Acknowledge your uniqueness.
Believe in yourself and know that you are one of a kind. In the words of Walt Whitman, know “[t]hat you are here — that life exists and identity, / That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” There is no one else like you on this planet. No one looks like you or has the same talents and perspective as you. You are unique and are therefore here to make your unique contribution. If we each focus on what we bring into the world to share, there can be no comparisons, envy or regret. We are here to “contribute a verse.” What will your verse be?
If you’re not sure yet or don’t like your verse so far, take some time and think about it. Think about what you would do with your time if you had one month to live and a million dollars. What advice would you pass on to those you love? Whatever your answers are, that’s what’s unique about you.
2. Confront your fears.
Nothing destroys self-confidence more than succumbing to fear. Everyone feels fear at various times; we’re human. But facing circumstances with courage and poise strengthens character and builds self-confidence.
Recently, I boarded a plane and went, by myself, to Jordan. People told me, “You’re nuts. You’re walking into the lions’ den.” Yes, I was a white female traveling alone in a mostly Muslim country, but I refused to let fear dictate my life’s journey. I had visited Jordan in the past and wanted to revisit it before teaching a class in Egypt. This was going to be “my” time to go deep, relax and meditate before the class.
I ended up having a great time. I slept under the black sky and bright stars in a cave and felt more alive, inspired and full of life. By confronting any fears I may have had and giving to myself, I was able to build my confidence and give more to my clients. I was able to share from a deeper level and give channeled and inspired counseling by spending time in silence in breathtaking surroundings, instead of give a mundane, regurgitated speech.
3. Accomplish something — no matter what.
Set goals for yourself and then push yourself to reach them. Self-confidence soars when you know you can do what you put your mind to. It makes you feel unstoppable. If you feel like you don’t have the strength to do it alone, get a coach!
Remember that everybody has setbacks and obstacles to contend with. Don’t let them undermine your confidence. Treat them as opportunities to strengthen your resolve and then persevere.
Overcoming adversity and accomplishing something builds and strengthens self-confidence. The greatest songs, works of art and literary pieces have been written by those who have experienced the depths of despair, loss and emptiness — and overcame them. Experiencing sadness and loss and then rising above it gives rise to hope and triumph. It makes you stretch and become more than you were. When you do the best you can, with the best of what you’ve got, you can’t help but feel good about yourself. That confidence then comes through in everything you do.
4. See the positive in every situation.
You are not what happens to you or how you believe others see you. In other words, you are not defined by what happens to you or how others see you. You are who you choose to be — hopefully, you choose to be a person of character, dignity and self-confidence. When you see the positive in every situation, it’s easier to make that choice.
I recently spoke at an event that was supposed to be for Youth Leaders Causing Leaders. When I arrived, it turned out that I only had two teenagers in the audience, while the rest were adults. I had to scrap my speech and improvise a speech based on my new audience. I was thrilled that the talk was only scheduled for 20 minutes, instead of the usual 45 to 60 minutes. Several other speakers chose to cancel because they felt the event was not organized properly and they didn’t have something prepared for this age group.
Rather than view the situation as a negative, I saw it as a positive. I saw it as a challenge. I saw the glass as half-full instead of half-empty because it forced me to dig deeper and come up with a 20-minute presentation about leadership that would help motivate and inspire the audience I had in front of me, not the one I had prepared for.
Right before I took the stage, the producer asked if I could speak for 60 minutes because the other two speakers had cancelled. I gladly accepted, not having anything prepared except for my inner resources. No notes, bullet points, nothing.
Look at whatever challenge you’re facing. How can you see the glass half-full? When you’re able to, you’ll tap into reservoirs of self-confidence you never knew you had.
Your confidence and potential are limitless.
Self-confidence is essential for achieving success in any endeavor. And you develop your self-confidence by doing, learning, accomplishing and persisting — not by talking about it and criticizing others who are doing things. So work on increasing your self-confidence every day. When you do, you’ll have the key ingredient for reaching your goals and living the life of your dreams.
