One Minute Entrepreneur

You can get what you want in life if you help others get what they want.

If nobody will pay you to do what you love, you have a hobby, not a career.

Too many people dream too small. Remember, you’ll never achieve more than you think you can. So create a big dream.

via Leticia Bertin

Today’s post is about five lessons I learned from the book The One Minute Entrepreneur: The Secret to Creating and Sustaining a Successful Business authored by Ken Blanchard and Don Hutson. I got the book for P100 in one of National’s booksale. It is originally priced at P845 so I really got a bargain.

The book is an easy read. True to its title, it will really take a few or more minutes to complete a chapter. The learnings are presented thru the story of a couple who started their own business.

Takeaways

Associate with people you admire and can learn from

If you learn something, learn it from someone who already did it. One with experience doing what it is you wanted to do. That is the quickest way to learn.

Don’t stress yourself trying to learn things on your own. Ask someone who knows about it.

You can get what you want in life if you help others get what they want

This is the same lesson I got reading the book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” which I have written here. Two different books with the same message. Coincidence? I don’t know but it must be working.

If nobody will pay you to do what you love, you have a hobby, not a career

This is the second time I encountered this phrase. I heard it first from one of the podcasts my wife was listening to and I absolutely agree to this statement.

Mentors will always tell me “do what you love and you never have to work for the rest of your life”. Well, that is not entirely true. These mentors missed the part that people should pay you for doing that thing that you love to do.

If people won’t then it is time to look and reassess the things you love to do and do whatever it is the people will pay you. You will lead yourself to bankruptcy if you do not earn doing that thing you love to do.

Keep a notebook of the wisdom you read, hear and learn and distill that learning into One Minute Insights

This I am now doing. I don’t do this before and I realized that having a journal where I write all the learnings help me remember them and go back whenever necessary.

Same thing with quotes. There are quotes that really helped me turn my emotional state of mind from being pessimistic to optimistic just by rereading the quotes. I also took a further step and printed those that really motivates me. I have some in my bedroom and work station. Whenever occasion calls for it, I read them aloud just to remind myself what I need to do.

Too many people dream too small. Remember, you’ll never achieve more than you think you can. So create a big dream.

This is a never ending goal for me.

When I was a kid, it is so easy for me to do pretend play. Let my imagination run wild and think of things that might not physically exist yet. However, as I grow older, that skill disappeared.

So now, every once in a while, I do what I have read from the Personal Excellence blog. If I can do anything (no ifs, no buts) what will I do?

Success lives in the effort, in the experience, in the learning, in the growing, not in the rewards

P.S. One of my goals for 2013 is to complete reading twelve books. Minimum. If you haven't read the other posts, sharing the links below

1. The Happiness Project
2. The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind
3. The Winning Attitude
4. How to Work a Room
5. The Coffee House Investor
6. Eat That Frog!
7. Awaken the Giant Within
8. Fish! Omnibus
9. How to Win Friends and Influence People 
10. The Milionaire Next Door

Summary

• Associated with people you admire and can learn from
• You can get what you want if you help others get what they want
• If nobody will pay you to do what you love, you have a hobby, not a career
• Keep a notebook of wisdom you hear, read and learn
• Dream Big

Ten Rules Rich Parents Should Follow for their Kids' Sake

Quick Summary

1. Never tell children that their parents are wealthy
2. No matter how wealthy you are, teach your children discipline and frugality
3. Assure that your children won't realize you're rich until after they have established a mature, disciplined and adult lifestyle and profession
4. Minimize discussions of the items that each child and grandchild will inherit or receive as gifts
5. Never give cash or other significant gifts to your adult children as part of a negotiation strategy
6. Stay out of your adult children's family matters
7. Don't try to compete with your children
8. Always remember that your children are individuals
9. Emphasize your children's achievements, no matter how small, not their or your symbol of success.
10. Tell your children that there are a lot of things more valuable than money

Hey, what's up?

A few more months before the end of the year. How are you with your goals? Almost done with it or barely there? Well, whatever it is you are aspiring for, I know you can do it. As for me, i am done with my tenth book! 

If this is your first time here, one of my goals for 2013 is to read twelve books. The books that i have completed so far 

1. The Happiness Project
2. The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind
3. The Winning Attitude
4. How to Work a Room
5. The Coffee House Investor
6. Eat That Frog!
7. Awaken the Giant Within
8. Fish! Omnibus
9. How to Win Friends and Influence People 

The Millionaire Next Door

And that my friends is my tenth book. This book was recommended by Mr. Randell during the Personal Finance for the Self-Employed seminar that I and my wife attended.

The Millionaire Next Door book has a section on what parents should do and should not do. That is the summary you see above. That section got me interested because I wear two hats. I am the third son of my parents and I myself is a father to two young boys.

Key Points

Never tell children that their parents are wealthy

Why? Because if you are rich, you know that getting rich is a result of hard work and a lot of self-discipline. Rich people live a frugal live. You will not be there if hard work was absent or discipline is not there. The downside, however, is the mindset that "I will never let my children experience what I have experienced". 

That my friend is setting your kid for failure. Why do you think you are successful right now? Discipline and character isn't it? Then be a good parent and make sure you don't let your children grow up without learning the same values and principles that your parents successfully implanted in you.

No matter how wealthy you are, teach your children discipline and frugality

Don't try to compete with your children (or compete with your parents)

Each to his own. Never go expect your kid to have the same achievements that you had. Don't go "when I was at your age..."  Let your children discover and create their own success stories. Just be supportive.

Also, if you are better off than with your parents, don't be boastful as well. Never disrespect your parents. If you feel that your parents has lesser dreams than yours, you are exactly one of their dreams. If you have hang-ups that your parents were not able to buy you nice things or send you to a better school... that you will never let your kids experience that... Please do it in such a way that will not disrespect your parents. 

Remember, if you are able to let your kids experience things your parents failed to let you experience, it is only because your parents did their best so that you will be able to exactly do that. Give your kids what they failed to give you. 

Emphasize your children's achievements, no matter how small, not their or your symbol of success.

Tell your children that there are a lot of things more valuable than money

Lastly, while money is important to buy the things we need and want in life, there is more to life than money. There is friendship, being loved, helping others and making the world a better place to live in.

Thoughts

What do you think? If you are to write important rules to live by for a parent, what would they be? Let me know.

Also, if you like this post, share away and don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss any post.

Cheers!

The Book That You Should Be Reading

Hi There!

I hope you are doing well!

Today's post is the ninth post and completes the book for the month of September. This month's book is a book published in 1936 titled "How to Win Friends and Influence People".  If you are new here, sharing the links below for this series

1.       The Happiness Project
2.       The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind
3.       The Winning Attitude
4.       How to Work a Room
5.       The Coffee House Investor
6.       Eat That Frog!
7.       Awaken the Giant Within
8.       Fish! Omnibus

How to Win Friends and Influence People

This is the best book i have read so far for the year and I highly recommend it.

Back when I was ten or eleven and started being engrossed reading back issues of "Reader's Digest" that my mom keeps, i recall seeing this book. I never bothered reading it and never saw the copy of the book again. Who would have thought that I will be reading it years later.

So who should read the book? I recommend it to people who want others get the things done. Those who work with other department and frustrated how other people "seem so stupid" and take days to do something that can be done in an hour.

I would not be posting my take and key points I picked up from the book. Instead, i am sharing summaries from the book itself.


* Eight Things that the Book Will Help You
* Three Fundamental Techniques in Handling People
* Six Ways to Make People Like You
* Twelve Ways to Win People To Your Way of Thinking
* Nine Ways How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment

 Eight Things This Book Will Help You

1. Get out of a mental rut, think new thoughts, acquire new visions, discover new ambitions
2. Make friends quickly and easily
3. Increase your popularity
4. Win people to your way of thinking
5. Increase your influence, your prestige, your ability to get things done
6. Handle complaints, avoid arguments, keep your human contacts smooth and pleasant
7. Become a better speaker, a more entertaining conversationalist
8. Arouse enthusiasm among your associates

 Three Fundamental Techniques in Handling People

If you want to gather honey, don't kick over the beehive.

1. Don't criticize, condemn or complain
2. Give honest and sincere appreciation
3. Arouse in the other person an eager want

Six Ways to Make People Like You

1. Become genuinely interested in other people
2. Smile
3. Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language
4. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves
5. Talk in terms of the other person's interests
6. Make the other person feel important and do it sincerely

How to win People to Your Way of Thinking

1. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it
2. Show respect for the other person's opinions. Never say "you're wrong"
3. If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically
4. Begin in a friendly way
5. Get the other person saying "yes, yes" immediately
6. Let the other person do a great deal of the talking
7. Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers
8. Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view
9. Be sympathetic with the other person's ideas and desires
10. Appeal to the nobler motives
11. Dramatize your ideas
12. Throw down a challenge

Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment

1. Begin with praise and honest appreciation
2. Call attention to people's mistake indirectly
3. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person
4. Ask questions instead of giving direct orders
5. Let the other person save face
6. Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be "hearty" in your approbation and lavish in your praise.
7. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to
8. Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct
9. Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest

Round-Up

I am getting a lot of topics to write about reading the book but it seems unfair if I post a series just for one book. It is really worth reading. Read it and let me know your thoughts. Ok. Till the next post.

By the way, if you like this post, why not try subscribing in the button above. You like receiving FREE Articles don't you?

Thinking About Others

September is the annual National Book Store sale and my wife bought some books for the kiddo. I was reading it yesterday and wanted to share a very interesting story from Korea.

The Story of Ru Shou

The story is about Ru Shou. He’s an average guy living and supporting his mom. Day in day out, he works hard. One day, he took a pause and asked himself “I work hard everyday but why am I still poor?” (This is the same question I asked myself from time to time).
With that question, he decided to leave his home and ask the god of west why he remains poor despite his consistent effort to work hard.

On his way, he passed by a house. In it lived a daughter and mother. The mother invited Ru Shou inside the house for a meal. Ru Shou told her his plan of asking the god of west. The mother said “I also want to ask him a question but too busy to go there myself. Can you ask when will my daughter speak? She’s already 18 years of age but has not spoken a single worth since birth.

Ru Shou went on in his journey and he passed another house. The man invited him to take a break. Ru Shou told him about his plan of meeting the god of west and asking him why he remains poor in spite of all the hard work that he puts in. The man said “I also want to ask him a question but too busy to go there myself. Can you ask him why the huge orange tree in my backyard does not bear fruit?” Ru Shou said yes to the man and continued on his journey.

Ru Shou reached the mountain where the god of west resides but there’s a river in front of him that he needs to cross. Out of nowhere a dragon appeared and approached him. “Do not be afraid. I will not harm you”, the dragon said. Ru Shou told the dragon that he wants to meet the god of the west and ask him some questions. The dragon replied “I also want to ask him a question but too busy guarding the river to ask him myself. Can you ask him what I should do to reach the heavens?” Ru Shou said yes to the dragon and the dragon helped him cross the river.

Finally, Ru Shou met the god of the west. Weird as it may seem, the god of west told Ru Shou “I can only answer odd number of questions. You can ask three but not four. You may ask five but not six? Ru Shou was surprised by this request especially that he have fours questions to ask. He then decided to ask the god about the questions by the mother, the man and the dragon. He thought that since he is young, he can always go back and ask the god his question. The god answered the three questions and Ru Shou proceeded to go home.
He first met the dragon and told the dragon the answer to his question. “The god says you must help me cross the river back and you have to let go of the pearl you have in your head in order for you to reach the heavens. The dragon helped him cross the river and threw the pearl to Ru Shou’s arms. True enough, the dragon was able to fly high and reach the heavens.

On his way back. Ru Shou met the man and told him “The god of west says you need to dig around the tree and remove the 7 jars of gold”. The man did as he was told and like magic, the big orange tree was filled with fruits. The man was ecstatic and happy he gave one of the jars of gold to Ru Shou.

Ru Shou continued his journey way back and told the mother “The god of west says your daughter will speak once she sees the man that he will marry”. The daughter then went out of the room and saw Ru Shou. She finally was able to speak. The mother was happy and she agreed giving her daughter’s hand to Ru Shou.

Ru Shou went back to his home with a huge pearl, a jar of gold and a new wife. With all the riches he got from his journey, he does not need to go back and ask why he is poor because he is no longer a poor man.

My thoughts

I wanted to share the story because this is the same message I am getting from my September book “How to Win Friends and Influence People”. If you want to get whatever you aspire for, you must help others first to get what they aspire for. It is always about helping others before helping oneself. And it also reminds me about the quote in the bible saying about those who put themselves first will be the last and the last will be the first.

I am also amazed because my marketing professor always shares the quote “it is the customer stupid! Or the customer is king!” He wanted to emphasize that in all business or activity that we do, we should always think of the need of the customer rather than what we want to provide or deliver. We might be clouded on what we want to provide forgetting what the customer really needed.

So there, I was just so amazed that the idea is in a folk story, in a book written at the start of the 19th century, in the bible and same concept taught by my professor. Maybe this is the perfect time to consider this in all that I do.

Hey, i know this is out of the regular posts that I do but if you liked this, do subscribe above so you get updates from me. Don't worry. No spam.



Matthew 20:16
"So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

What's in it for me?

Hi! How are you doing?

I've been busy lately helping my wife get our household compliant with the Kasambahay Law. Funny thing because i was a compliance officer before. I spend my day reviewing people activities and i am that person who points out that a department is non-compliant with a policy or a regulation. I was that guy who tells you that you need to comply. Now, my wife is the compliance officer in the house and she tells me we need to get this done for us (the household) to be compliant.

Really weird to be that someone who has to take action to be compliant. I am used to be on the other side of the coin. Someone who informs people about non-compliance rather being that someone who is taking action to be compliant.

Nevertheless, this is a good feeling. To take action. Taking action always bring good feelings.

Anyhow, do drop by at my wife's blog here if you want to learn more about the Kasamabahay Law and how to get your household compliant.

Book Series

Next is the book series. One of my goals for the year is to complete reading 12 books. I am on track. (Thankfully!) I am reposting the links below in case you want to read my posts before buying the books and reading them yourself.

1.       The Happiness Project

2.       The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind

3.       The Winning Attitude

4.       How to Work a Room

5.       The Coffee House Investor

6.       Eat That Frog!

7.       Awaken the Giant Within

8.       Fish! Omnibus

Going back to the Kasambahay law, my wife has been pushing me to be compliant. She’s been telling me about the Kasambahay law in more detail. Before, the only thing I knew about it was employers have to pay and contribute SSS, PhilHealth and PAG-IBIG to our househelp. Other than that, I know nothing else.

She’s becoming like my mom. Even before the kasambahay law was passed into a bill, my mom has been telling me to enroll our househelps in all of these government institutions. She even volunteered to pay for the contributions like what she is doing for my sister’s kasambahay. Sadly though, I never found time to help them register until recently.

I acted not because my wife nor my mother nagged told me but more so because I got to understand the importance of being compliant and helping the people who help maintain my family.

Since lianne and I both work, my family will not really progressed without our kasambahays. They take care of our kids while we are away and maintain the cleanliness of our house. Sure, they are being paid for that but they are both responsible and show genuine interest in the well-being of our kids. These two are something not included in the monetary benefit that they are getting.

Going back to taking action, my wife got me to act on it not because she wants it done but because she was able to phrase the need to act using my point of view.

And that is one of the few pointers I got from reading the book “How to win Friends and Influence People”.  All of us are interested in our own individual desires. Admit it or not but most people will act if the action will give them what they desire.  

“What’s in it for me?” will be the ever present question for everyone before someone will act on something. And that’s how you will influence people. Talk them in their point of view.

This pointer is very relevant to me being an auditor and being one of the change agents in the company. Most of the time, I talk to people about gaps or errors in the processes that requires them to do something about it. I realized that I am most effective when I share my findings and observations to them by telling them what’s in it for them if they do what I am suggesting them they do.

And that’s my quick post about my book for the month of September. I am about quarter done with the book and I am loving all the reminders and the nuggets of wisdom I am picking.

 How about you? What are you doing this month of September? Whatever it is, just do it and don’t tell me that “Wake me up when September ends” quote that’s been trending since the beginning of the month.

Fish! Omnibus

August is not yet over but i am done with my August book! Yey!

The book for the month is Fish Omnibus by Stephen C. Lundin, Harry Paul and John Christensen. This book is actually three books in one. The original Fish! followed by its sequels Fish Tales and Fish Sticks.

The book Fish! introduces the Fish! Philosophy while Fish Tales is about sample stories applying Fish! Philosophy. The last book is how to continue applying the Fish! Philosophy.

After reading several self-help books for the year, the stories starts to become a touchy-feelly Rah! Rah! Rah! kind of a thing. You know the idea. Same feeling you get when you join a team building and you get all hyped up a few days after attending it. Nevertheless, the first book is a good read. It talks about how to make work a fun thing to do.

Fish Philosophy

Here are the four principles as defined in the book

Be There: When people need you, they need all of you. Setting aside distractions and judgments to be mentally and emotionally present is a sign of respect. It improves communication and strengthens relationships.

Play: You can be serious about your work without taking yourself so seriously. Play is a mindset more than a specific activity. It allows you to throw yourself with enthusiasm and creativity into whatever you are doing, in a way that is natural, not forced. "Playing” with ideas helps you find solutions to everyday challenges.

Make Their Day: Simple gestures of thoughtfulness, thanks and recognition make people feel appreciated and valued. When you make someone else feel good, you feel good too.

Choose Your Attitude: To actually choose how you respond to life, not just react, you must be intentional. When you get up, decide who you want to "be" today. Moment-to-moment awareness is key. Ask yourself throughout the day, "What is my attitude right now? Is it helping the people who depend on me? Is it helping me to be most effective?"

All the principles are true and doable. Among the principles, i want to work on Make Their Day! attitude. Looking back on my current activity, i have not put so much effort in attending to my clients that they will be in a position to say that i made their day. Sure, i deliver a quality work. However, i need to push more in the level of delivering beyond expectations.

So that's it. This will be a short post as the book is short as well. Technically, i am done with my September and October book since the book is really 3 in 1. Nevertheless, i want to read more so will search for books for the Ber months.

"Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out" - Anonymous

Eat that Frog! Quotes

I love quotes! I love the feeling they generate especially the good ones. 

Yeah! I know all of us relate to this comic

Nevertheless, here i am sharing the quotable quotes i got from the book

One of the simplest and yet most powerful ways to get yourself started is to repeat the words, "Do it now! Do it now! Do it now! over and over to yourself

You concentrate on the things you can do right now to get the results you want and achieve the goals you desire

“Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along”

You take action rather than talking continually about what you are going to do.

It is not what happens to you but the way that you interpret the things that are happening to you that determines how you feel.

Optimists

• First, optimists look for the good in every situation.
• Second, optimists always seek the valuable lesson in every setback or difficulty.
• Third, optimists always look for the solution to every problem.

Successful people continually put the pressure on themselves to perform at high levels. Unsuccessful people have to be instructed and supervised and pressured by others.

The first requisite for success is to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem incessantly without growing weary.

One of the great ways for you to overcome procrastination is by working as though you only had one day to get all your most important jobs done before you left for a month or went on vacation.

A great life, a great career is built by performing one task at a time…

…"By the yard it's hard; but inch by inch, anything's a cinch!"

One of your great responsibilities in life is for you to decide what it is that you really love to do and then to throw your whole heart into doing that special thing very, very well.

…Do your work. Not just your work and no more, but a little more for the lavishings sake – that little more that is worth all the rest.”

The sad fact is that "almost done" probably meant "not yet started."

Decisions

Are you fond of making decisions? I was not.

The beginning of our life was never our decision. Somebody has to make that decisions for us. Our parents. I am into the impression that we are not designed to decide.

No one was born with decision making skill. It is something learned. As we grow up and gain knowledge, we start learning how to make decisions.

I spent my formative years in a seminary where everything is structured. We have time for everything. There is a set time for wakingup. Time to hear mass. Time for prayer. Time for eating. Time for resting. From an outside perspective, it was not freedom. At that time, i also felt it restrictive. Only after getting out that i realized how much  i miss that structured organized life.

On the book awaken the giant within by Anthony Robbins, the author encourages us to make more decisions to master the skill of decision making. And since i am also still on my mental diet, this was an exciting but challenging task for me.

If you are following me in facebook, you know that I had some problems with my son not wanting to go to school. We solved it by having a heart to heart talk to him and givng him structure. A step by step schedule from the waking up to getting to school. It worked! It was easier for him to follow that structure and we are all happy. Somehow, i inferred that until we master the skill of making decisions, we always long for someone making the decisions for us.

It was effective as long as the steps are followed. Hoever, it is a team effort. Part of the step is his mom giving him a bath. It was a non-negotiable for my son. If mommy is not giving him a bath then it is a no school day for him. The routine worked for awhile but it is not fail proof. More often than not, my wife has to render long hours of officework and she made the decision to wait for my 1pm - 10pm shift before going home rather than taking the long tiring commute.

At times, she really need to catch more sleep since our second son cries for milk at dawn. During that times, she is unable to wake up early. She will get cranky if she is forced to wake up. And if she does not wake up and does not help my son,  He too gets cranky and decides not to go to school. I will get frustrated too. I will feel bad. I am dissappointed with my wife and with my son. i will give in to the fact that my son ends up not going to school yet the feeling of frustration will haunt for me for the rest of the day.

Then came the mental diet. The challenge is to be positive all the time and to focus on the solutions. It is a very difficult but it somehow helps me to cope up. I have been waking up early since Tuesday despite my midshift schedule to be in LTO by 8 am. I have to work on renewing our car's registration and transferring the car title under my wife's name. 

I would not go into detail how it went but for sure you know the feeling of transacting with a government institutuion. Again, it helped that i am forcing myself to think positivie.

Now, going back to my son. His mom has to work longer hours this week. You know the drill. She needs to recharge and it would not be nice forcing her to wake up early. I changed my perspective and instead of nagging her and nagging my son, i decided to just go through the process as calmly as i can.

While his mom did not give him a bath, i diverted my son's attention into talking about our plans for the weekend and talking about school. It worked from tuesday to thursday but was not so effective today. What changed? My decision.

He woke up as scheduled. Earlier in fact. He's up 6:30. For the past three days, i forced myself to talk to him while he eat and prepare. Today,  i just let him be. And that was a bad decision on my part. By 7:30 i can hear his wailing and the mood has changed. My son is cranky and does not want to go to school anymore. His pattern was interrupted. Old me would immediately put the blame to my wife but this time i decided to take control. I  ignored the negative feeling knowing that what i focus on expands. One cry will ruin my day and it is unfair to myself. Took a heavy sigh and tried the whispering technique. Whispered the Saturday plan to my son and it worked. Told him that Saturday is a transportation day. (I'm visitng my dentist tomorrow and i am planning to commute.) He stopped  crying. I am sure he got excited about the prospect of riding the jeepney, bus tricycle and mrt all on the same day. 

I have completed my seventh book and would like to share pointers about decison making.

1 Harness the power of decidion making.

2 Remember the true power of making decisions

3 Realize that the hardest step in achieving anything is making a true commitment - a true decision

4 Make decisions often

5 Learn from your decisions

6 Stay committed to your decisions but stay flexible in your approach

7 Enjoy making decisions

Power of making decisions

If you look and assess oyour emotions, events and those that stresses you, do realize that it all happens because you made a decision.  An approaching deadline might be stressing you now and looking back, it might be stressing you now because you made a decision back then to procrastinate on it.

You might be feeling dissappointed  right now because the result you are expecting is not happening. Someone you expect to do something failed to deliver results. The author emphasizes that whatever happens, we have a control. We decide. We decide whether these events or things will stress us or not. We decide whether we are going to on panic mode or just calmly tackle the task at hand with the best of our abilities given the limited time. Awareness to decision making helps us remind ourselves that we are in control. It may be true that we do not control how people around us will act or the events that will happen but at the end of the day, we are in control of how we are going to react.

Make decisions often.

This is a learning for me. I hate decision making. Thismust be the reason why i hate grocery shopping. It entails a lot of decision making. :D Seriosuly though, i am one of those who rants "why do i have to make all these decisions" when i am so busy and bombarded by smaller tasks.

The author suggest to master the skill of decision making. Not just letting it flow but conscious decision making. How many of us make a decision just for the sake of making a decision? Cge yan na lang is a scary decision making skill. Take charge! That is what the author suggests.

Lastly, enjoy the processs of decision making. It is one of the greatest gift we have. Freedom to decide. Use it.

"Decide to build your own dreams or others will hire you to build theirs"

Mental Diet Challenge

Have you heard about the 10-Day Mental Diet? I am currently on my 7^th book and came across this topic. “A mental diet is an opportunity to eliminate the negative and destructive patterns of thinking and feeling that inevitably come from living life in an emotionally reactionary and mentally undisciplined fashion”  . In my understanding, the idea of mental diet is to take control of our thoughts focusing on positive thoughts and solutions on our problems instead of thinking about the problem and worrying. I am starting this mental diet today and I invite you to join me. This is especially for those who struggles sticking to the usual diet (like me!)

Here is the challenge as written down in Anthony Robbin’s Awaken the Giant Within Book

For the next ten days, beginning immediately, commit to taking full control of all your mental and emotional faculties by deciding right now that you will not indulge in or dwell on any unresourceful thoughts or emotions for ten consecutive days.

Rules of the Game

Rule 1. In the next ten consecutive days, refuse to dwell on any unresourceful thoughts or feelings. Refuse to indulge in any disempowering questions or devitalizing vocabulary or metaphors.

Rule 2. When you catch yourself beginning to focus on the negative – and you certainly will – you are to immediately use the techniques you’ve learned to redirect your focus toward a better emotional state. Specifically, use the Problem-Solving Questions as your first line of attack; for example: "What's great about this? What's not perfect yet?," you're presupposing that things will be perfect. This will change your state while you identify what needs to be changed.

In addition, set yourself up for success each morning for the next ten days by asking yourself the Morning Power Questions. You can do them before you get out of bed or while you're in the shower, but make sure you do them right away. This will focus you in the direction of establishing empowering mental and emotional patterns each day as you awake. In the evening, use the Evening Power Questions, or any questions you believe will put you in a great state before you drop off to sleep.

Rule 3. For the next ten consecutive days, make certain that your whole focus in life is on solutions and not on problems. The minute you see a possible challenge, immediately focus on what the solution could be.

Rule 4. If you backslide, that is, if you catch yourself indulging in or dwelling on an unresourceful thought or feeling - don't beat yourself up. There's no problem with this as long as you change immediately. However, if you continue to dwell on unresourceful thoughts or feelings for any measurable length of time, you must wait until the following morning and start the ten days over. The goal of this program is ten consecutive days without holding or dwelling on a negative thought. This starting-over process must happen no matter how many days in a row you've already accomplished the task

I am beginning this diet today after completing the Morning Power Questions.  Do share your success story once you complete the ten day challenge.

The Morning Power Questions

Lifted from Anthony Robbins book Awaken the Giant Within

The Morning Power Questions

Our life experience is based on what we focus on.
The following questions are designed to cause you to experience more happiness, excitement, pride, gratitude, joy, commitment, and love everyday of your life. Remember, quality questions create a quality life.

Come up with two or three answers to all of these questions and fell fully associated. If you have difficulty discovering an answer simply add the word "could". Example: "What could I be most happy about in my life now?"

1. What am I happy about in my life now?
What about that makes me happy? How does that make me feel?
2. What am I excited about in my life now?
What about that makes me excited? How does that make me feel?
3. What am i proud about in my life now?
What about that makes me proud? How does that make me feel?
4. What am I grateful about in my life now?
What about that makes me grateful? How does that make me feel?
5. What am I enjoying most in my life right now?
What about that do I enjoy? How does that make me feel?
6. What am I committed to in my life right now?
What about that makes me committed? How does that make me feel?
7. Who do I love? Who loves me?
What about that makes me loving? How does that make me feel?

Evening Power Questions
1. What have i given today?
In what ways have I been giver today?
2. What did I learn today?
3. How has today added to the quality of my life or how can I use today as an investment in my future?