Persuading yourself that you can do something is a strong beginning. Next develop a sound plan and get into action. The longer you delay, the harder it will be to begin. Seldom is a plan perfect. If you have a clear vision of your goal and a plan that is flexible enough to allow you to deal with unexpected obstacles or take advantage of unforeseen opportunities, don’t delay another minute. Just getting into action -- even if you do have to make adjustments later -- will help focus your mind and channel your energies in the direction of your objective. 07/05/2011

People of character do what they say they will do, when they say they will do it, and according to agreed-upon conditions. They are the leaders, the individuals to whom others turn for guidance because they have demonstrated that they care, that they can be trusted. If you respect yourself enough to keep commitments even when it's inconvenient to do so, others will come to respect you too. Dependability, like any other character trait, is a habit. Begin today to develop the dependability habit. If you procrastinate or find it difficult to meet your commitments, start small. Promise yourself that you will be on time, for example, and manage your time so that you are. Soon you will find that it's easier to keep other commitments as well. 03/26/2011

Life might be described as long periods of uncertainty punctuated by occasional emergencies that shake you to the very core of your being. The emergencies may be financial, personal, or health related, but each must be dealt with separately and swiftly. The surest way to deal with any crisis is to focus on solutions, not on the probable cause of the problem or who should be blamed for it. Conduct a quick damage assessment, take the time to think through the alternatives and their consequences, and then act to implement the best solution. If you deal with life's emergencies as they occur -- on your own terms -- you will be a stronger, better person for having looked them in the eye and conquered them. 03/22/2011

Perhaps the greatest quality in a leader and the most valuable skill in building relationships is the ability to think before you speak. If you have a tendency to speak hastily in anger and regret your actions at leisure, the childhood admonition to count to ten before speaking will still serve you well. When you pause -- if only for a moment -- to consider the consequences, you may think better of what you were about to say. And if you must speak strongly, it's a good idea to sugarcoat the words -- just in case you have to eat them later. 03/10/2011

Whatever the actual science of thought transmissions may be, it is true that if you wish to receive the power contained in the thoughts of others, you must condition your mind to receive those ideas. Listening helps condition your mind to receive valuable information contained in the thoughts of others. Set aside any preconceived notions you may have about the topic, and listen attentively and nonjudgmentally to what is being said. Focus on the information, not on the speaker. Try to identify key concepts behind the speaker's words. Train your mind to identify and absorb information that others often miss because their "receivers" are not tuned to the proper frequency. 03/06/2011

Pat Ryan, the chairman and CEO of Aon Corporation, the giant multinational insurance company, is fond of saying, "You can't conceive how high 'up' is, except for the limitations of your own mind." It's not very good English, he admits, but it emphatically makes the point that the only limits that can be placed on the power of your mind will be those you impose on it yourself. When you brainstorm, don't allow limits to be placed on any idea. Sometimes the ideas that seem the craziest at the time will later prove to be the most inspired. If you're working with your Master Mind group, encourage the free flow of ideas from every individual present. Don't be critical or analytical during the brainstorming process; at this point, every idea is a good one. Cluster the ideas into groups of rela... 02/22/2011

Theoretical knowledge without practical experience might be compared to a large mass of undirected energy. Until it is focused, it is difficult to direct the energy to a useful end. Practical experience is the lens through which the energy of knowledge may be focused and directed toward activities that will provide the greatest benefit. When you learn new concepts or have an idea that has not yet been tested, make it a practice to think through its application carefully before implementation. When you have considered the possibilities, and it still seems to be a good idea -- get into action. The only way to get practical experience is to get to work executing your idea. 02/20/2011