Last chapter I emphasized reading as being a valuable learning tool to effect change in your life. I believe this to be very true, but I do remember a time in my life when all the reading in the world did squat for me. As crazy as it may seem, I didn’t realize I had any responsibility in the reading to action chain. I guess I figured that somehow it would magically happen through osmosis or something - that I’d read some words on a page, which would absorb and activate a button, causing me to robotically respond accordingly. And I do believe in magic, really I do (as crazy as that may seem - I’m just a crazy old bird) but there’s a little more to it than that. Until I did some work to prepare my mind to accept the things I read as being within the realm of my accomplishment, nothing much was changing.

Read and Digest
Reading can make a difference, but if you find yourself consuming volumes of written motivational material, and you still don’t see a change in your life, then for you it’s not the first step. Hands-on experience, some kind of more involved action is necessary to get the momentum going. Reading is a tool to fuel the open mind. It can only be effective if that is the case. Conversely, if the mind is closed, it tends to create friction when our comfort zone is in danger of being violated.

If you’ve been reading, but your business and/or your life are not the most successful they can possibly be, there is still something more for you to learn, and you will want to find another way to do it. What am I proposing? Well, I’m not proposing you quit reading. All of that information you’re absorbing will eventually resonate with you. But if it’s not spurring you to take action.... You know what I’ve said before, I’m sure, and yup, I’m about to say it again. Here’s the deal, I figure if I have to be told things over and over and.... Well, I don’t imagine I’m the only one, so once again, going out on my limb with that presumption, I’ll give it to you again. (Of course, if you’re a first time reader, you won’t realize how obnoxious I can be!)

The Millionaire Kind
Here’s the list in a nutshell: Seminars. More reading. Courses. More reading. Personal coaches and mentors. More reading. How and where do you find the above? Keep your eyes and ears open. Referrals will be the most reliable. Talk to other entrepreneurs - networking is vital. Someone will know someone who knows someone. Find out what has worked for others you can relate to, and give it a try. Most importantly discard all your preconceived notions about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING! This is just toxic waste. Those notions are actually wasting your time, and working against you. When it comes to learning a new way of life you must start with a clean slate. Your time will be better spent to broaden your perspective, which will better facilitate the learning of valuable life and business strategies. Notice I usually combine life and business. If you think these are separate entities, I urge you to reconsider. How you do anything is how you do everything.

Will any of my suggestions cost you money? Many will, to varying degrees - absolutely. There are many forms of energy that go into successful learning, and in our world money is one of them. Here’s the thing: Does a university education cost money? Does a vacation cost money? Does a fancy new vehicle, or the latest TV, or stereo, or snowmobile cost money? All of the above may have value to you. But which has any value toward acquiring a better life and a more successful business? Realize the only ones that will ultimately give the greatest return in this respect are the ones that directly nurture both.

Material Whirl
A post-secondary education is a good basis, but may or may not enhance your entrepreneurial life, and “The E-Myth Revisited” by Michael E. Gerber has already established the importance of this. Vacations are essential to your well-being, and need not be extravagant to be healthy . The rest are just toys, but they’re probably hands-down a disproportionate percentage of most budgets. Does this apply to you? If so, how is this working for you?

I’m not saying you shouldn’t have toys, but they are the least important to our well-being. So, we’d be better off to postpone the toys until we’ve taken care of our real spiritual, physical and emotional requirements, including those of our business. First things first. Once these three are in order, and the business is paying off in spades, by all means go for the toys if that’s what you enjoy. You will deserve it. Strangely enough though, I’ve noticed that once personal and business development take first place in your mind, the toys are liable to lose their allure. You’ll probably find more pleasure in things of a less material nature. Even your business will no longer be so much about making money, as about pursuing your passion, being a successful person on every level, helping your customers, and making a contribution. You’ll be making the world a better place, even if it’s only your little part of the world.

Recycled Paper
One more thing about my suggestions, for those of you who might challenge the validity of seminars vs. formal accredited education, I ask this question: Which might serve your interests best in your particular situation? You will have to be the judge of that. I’m just not big on the paper chase scenario, for its own sake. In most cases, as the business owner you are able to establish the requirements, so accreditation may not be necessary. The thing I like most about seminars is they’re taught by masters, they’re quick, they’re usually specific to a need and address it immediately, they seldom require prerequisite credentials, and the good ones are experiential. So far I’ve found the dollar value to be incredible.

Holiday Gladness
Enough about education. Let’s get on to the holiday season. How are you planning to celebrate? For most of us, at least as far as my experience with Christmas is concerned, the traditions of giving and receiving are well-established. But these can create new challenges as we take on even more responsibilities in our busy schedules. The expectations of gift giving, decorating, preparing feasts, etc., often give way to exhaustion and frustration. This is a time when it is especially vital to nurture oneself. Ironically it’s a time when it seems impossible to do so. Once more the conditioned mind can become our enemy if we allow it. How we wish we might have taken some personal development seminars now! Or maybe time management?

During this holiday season, while encouraging you to remember others - friends, family members, and those less fortunate - I remind you to remember yourself. In the spirit of the season, what is really important? In the Christmas tradition the Christ child came to bless you, hence you must bless yourself. In that way you will be there for others, too.

To all our caring customers and to those whose acquaintance we’ve yet to make have a wonderful and safe holiday season. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and to those who’ve recently observed Ramadan, Assalamu Alaikum. To one and all have a safe, happy, and prosperous New Year.

For your success,

Team Corbin
 

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