Chris Widener's Ezine
July 27, 2006
Issue 43

Welcome!

What a whirlwind I have been on for the past two weeks, and it continues this week as well! And I have to say it's been F-U-N! Have I ever mentioned to you what GREAT people and companies I speak for? I just have to say I have the BEST audiences! This past weekend I spoke to a dynamic group of 5,000 people in the Dallas area, along with other great speakers such as Amanda Gore, Ron White, Paul Zane Pilzer and several others as well. And it was the first time I had my new book, The Image, available -- I think the ink was still drying! The first shipment had just arrived from the printer on Thursday, only 2 days before the event! The immediate feedback I've received has been nothing short of glowing (not to brag, in fact I've been humbled again by people's kind words and encouragement), so if you missed my announcement last Thursday evening, then scroll down to #4 below and as the say in the newspaper business, "Read all about it!"

And, once again, I want to say a HUGE and very humble, "THANK YOU!!" to all of those who have supported me and my message by bringing me in to speak, buying my books and spreading the word. Together we are making an impact that will be felt for generations to come!

You Are Made for Success!
Chris Widener

P.S. On July 31, 2006, I begin a new series, The Chris Widener Show, in which YOU the viewer can engage in one-on-one coaching with me. The Chris Widener Show's focus is all about you and the things important to your success. Please see #3 below, the Last Word, on details about being one of the live callers for the first show next week. Your participation will be greatly appreciated!

Today's issue is going out to 65,762 subscribers. If you've gained value from what you read in my Ezine, then I would like to thank you in advance for forwarding this issue to friends, family and associates!



In This Issue.......

1. Charting Your Course to Success Article
2. Made for Success Quote and Commentary
3. The Last Word...
4. Hot Off the Press - Chris Widener's New Book!
5. More Information

1. Charting Your Course to Success Article

Principles That Govern My Life by Chris Widener

The strength and durability of a building is found in its foundation. The same is true in a life. What we accomplish and the effect we have on those around us is not only in what we do, but also in who we are. In fact, what we do is driven by who we are, what we believe and value and by the principles that we live by.

Principles give us direction in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in. They are transferable to any given situation and will determine our direction. Those who do not have permanent principles will find themselves drifting along and making decisions that are personally expedient, short-term oriented and usually bad for their long-term success. So I thought I would share with you the principles that govern my life. These are the ideas and concepts that drive my behavior, my career, and my family. I would encourage you to sit down and write out your own principles. Those that drive your life, or at least that you want to drive your life!

God first, others second, me third. Gale Sayers, the running back of the Chicago Bears wrote a book titled "I am Third." This is true. If I am to do and be what I want to do and be in this life, I recognize that I must have my priorities right. Some people think that the way to success is to put themselves first. This is short-term thinking. Yes, you may be able to accomplish much in the near-term, but long-term, the best is accomplished by those who live by the above.

Always be completely honest. You really only have your character when it comes right down to it, and honesty is the quickest way to determine your character. Live in such a way that you can be completely honest and be willing to accept the responsibility that being completely honest will bring.

Make it your goal to help others, income will come from that. Zig Ziglar is the one who got me thinking about that. If you take care of others and their needs, you will earn your income. If you simply try to earn income, people will stop responding to you and you will have defeated yourself.

You reap what you sow. This is the most common truth on earth. You put an apple seed into the ground, you get an apple tree. An orange seed produces an orange tree. If you invest, your money will grow. If you eat right and exercise you will lose weight. If you are kind to others they will be kind to you.

The true measure of a man's wealth is in the things he can afford not to buy. This is one of my favorite quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson. Things are great to have and so is money, but true riches are the priceless things we can't buy, like our family, our integrity and the sense of a job well done. Pursue true wealth.

Work smart - and hard. Some say you should work smart, not hard. I say work smart and hard. A good day of hard work is a blessing and ought to be appreciated. Hard work is what changes the world - as long as it is smart, hard work!

Follow through on all commitments. If there is one thing I can't stand it is when someone doesn't do what they say they will. When we don't do what we say we will, we essentially say that the job wasn't important, the people we promised it to aren't important, and that we can't be trusted. This is a good way to short-circuit your success.

Challenge others to greatness. There are enough people who will hold out the low bar for people to step over. I want to be a person who holds up the high bar, causing people to have to run and jump with all their might. And when they clear that high bar, I want to be there celebrating with them!

Find ways to generously give of your resources. The old saying is true - you can't take it with you. But you can spread it around to lots of people while you are here. If we wait until we die to give money away, we don't get any satisfaction in seeing how it is used and enjoyed. Write a few good-sized checks each month!

Treat people right no matter how they treat you. You cannot control another person's behavior. It took me a long time to realize that. I can only control my behavior. And I can choose to do what is right no matter how another person treats me. If everybody retaliated every time someone treated them bad, we would have a mess on our hands. Instead, choose to act appropriately at all times.

When relationships go bad, be the first to hold out the olive branch. Life is too short to leave a relationship broken. As much as it is up to me, I will pursue reconciliation, for their sake, and for mine. I don't want to get to the end of my life and wish I tried harder in my relationships. For this reason I attempt to restore broken relationships.

Regularly try new things. This is what keeps the spice of life going! Try new foods, go to new places, and make new friends. You will be amazed at the joy you receive and are able to give when you make it a habit to try new things. Break out of the mold, do something unusual today!

Treat everyone equally. No one is better than anyone else. I know people with tens of millions of dollars and people who do not have two nickels to rub together. They are both equally valuable and worthy of being treated as such. Don't fall into the trap of treating some people better than others. It doesn't matter what color they are or how much money the have or what country they come from, treat them with the respect and dignity each human deserves.

Use any success you have to help others. What good is success that only helps you? Instead, use the money you make to help others. Use the connections you make to help someone else up. Use the knowledge you achieve to give someone else a leg up. Take what you have and give to others so that they may join you on the journey of success.

Look down the economic scale more often than up. When I look up the economic scale too often I become greedy and unsatisfied. I become selfish. Looking down at others who have less than me on a regular basis keeps me humble. It reminds me of all of the blessings I have and keeps me thankful for them.

I want to encourage you to sit down soon and write out the principles that guide your life. It is an excellent exercise that will help you refocus and keep your life going in the right direction!

Chris Widener
 

2. Made for Success Quote and Commentary

"In the dust of defeat as well as in the laurels of victory there is a glory to be found if one has done his best." -- Eric Liddell

Chris' Commentary:
Setback is never fun. Nor is it easy to bask in defeat. It is much easier when we win. Remember the old saying, "The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat"? This is how we think of it most often. But the really important thing to evaluate is whether or not we did our best. Did you win but play poorly? Then the victory could be bittersweet. Did you lose but play your best? Then you should take pride in your effort and seek to make your best even better for the next time.

Action Point: Take some time today to think not of whether or not you have won or lost but whether or not you are doing your best. Are you? If not, then set out for yourself two specific things you can do today to play at your best and highest level.



3. The Last Word...

Well, I've got some VERY exciting news I wanted to share with you first... I know I've mentioned in previous Ezines that I host a show on The Success and Training Network, and as host of TSTN's series Made For Success, I go one-on-one with some extraordinary people with extraordinary stories.

But now, I want to know your story. So on July 31, 2006, I begin a new series, The Chris Widener Show, in which YOU the viewer can engage in one-on-one coaching with me. The Chris Widener Show's focus is all about you and the things important to your success.

This is a live and interactive program, and I'm inviting you to call in or email me with your questions on the following times and dates:

July 31, 2006 - 7 pm EST- topic: Time Management
                            8 pm EST- topic: Communication

Aug 1, 2006 – 6 pm EST- topic: Attitude
                          7 pm EST- topic: Relationships
                          8 pm EST- topic: Living Your Dreams


I would love for you to participate in this ground-breaking program, and of course, there is no cost to you -- its free! For those of you that want to participate, TSTN will be providing an exclusive live taping, on the web, of the first few programs before they even air. And on August 1, at 9 pm EST, we will be going LIVE for the first time on The Success Training Network.

To watch The Chris Widener Show live, you must register today by clicking this link - http://www.tstn.com/support/live-events.aspx?KBID=1043&sub=cw - then, Bookmark the link and tune in. Be ready with your questions!

If you’ve ever wanted a one-on-one coaching session this is your chance. Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to improve your success! -- CW





4. Hot Off the Press - Chris Widener's New Book!

Hot Off the Press - Chris Widener's New Book! The Image by Chris Widener Kate Miller was an aggressive young businesswoman, but something had been bothering her. Every day for the past five years she had gotten up and commuted to her office in Seattle to engage in the wheels of commerce. Right out of business school she had secured a job with a prestigious firm that handled high level business transactions and business exchanges. She enjoyed her work, but something held her back. Something kept her from living fully engaged in the process. It was her questions about how her faith fit with being a successful businessperson. She wondered if she could be a truly strong person of faith if she was also trying to be successful in the marketplace. Was it okay to be ambitious? To set goals? To have increasing wealth and affluence?   This book is compelling, to the point and addresses questions so many have struggled to answer in their lives. Chris Widener and his unique ability to weave vital success principles into a story will inspire you to Go For It and to Reach for your God-given potential!       Here is an excerpt from The Image Foreword written by Donna Johnson:   "As a leader in my company and in an industry that relies greatly on personal growth, I am bombarded on a daily basis with books and articles from various success coaches and authors. On one such day last year, Loraine Grover, one of my business partners from Seattle sent me Chris Widener’s book The Angel Inside. To be honest, I set it in my “to read” file, and didn’t look at it again. A few months later, I heard that Chris was graciously opening his home in Seattle for Loraine, a member of his church, to host a celebration party that leaders in our company host when others reach the VP level of our business.   When I drove up to this beautiful home, and met Chris and his lovely wife and children, I knew they were very special. I was amazed as this young man began to speak, and poured out incredible wisdom beyond his years. The next afternoon, as I rode the ferry boat to visit my son on Orcas Island, I devoured The Angel Inside. I literally could not put it down. It touched me just as the early books of Og Mandino did early in my career. Chris has an incredible gift of weaving time tested success principles in a compelling story. Chris’ next book Twelve Pillars, co-written with personal development legend Jim Rohn, made just as big of an impression on me and my team. We quickly saw a classic series developing! Then Chris sent me a preview copy of the manuscript for The Image. I’m not sure if it’s because the main character of this book, Susan, is a woman, but this is the one that hit closest to home. I wondered how these books could keep getting better and better! The principles Chris talks about in The Image are principles I have had to learn to get me where I am today, and are key for anyone who wants to achieve success in business.   It’s never too late to be the person you always wanted to be, and it’s never too late to inspire others to do the same. We all have a gift, and a purpose. I can promise you, that once you begin to read The Image you will not be able to put it down. Like the movie, Pay it Forward, enjoy it, but pass it on to inspire others. You have just lit your own fire. Now pass on your torch, and fuel the flame to ignite others! You can make a difference, and with God’s strength, you are well on your way!"     This is one book you will refer to again and again and give away again and again!     Plus Receive 2 Bonuses with Your Purchase! Bonus 1: Receive FREE your choice of  Zig's Little Book of Big Quotes by Zig Ziglar ($2.25 value) or Jim Rohn's Building Your Network Marketing Business 67 minute CD ($4 value) for each book you order! So if you order 25 books at the Special quantity discount pricing, receive an additional 25 copies of either Zig's Little Book of Big Quotes or Building Your Network Marketing Business. Bonus 2: When you order in quantities of 25 books or more you will receive a free 15 minute coaching consultation with Chris Widener. In quantities of 100 or more you will receive a free 45 minute coaching consultation with Chris (a $195 value).   Special pricing on single and quantity purchases for this New Release is available.   Also Special Chris Widener Book Package containing The Image, Twelve Pillars and The Angel Inside is Available!     To order today go to http://theimage.yoursuccessstore.com or call 877-929-0439.