Chris Widener's Ezine
May 6, 2009
Issue 112

Welcome!

Since Mother's Day is this coming Sunday, I want to take just a moment to say a HUGE "Thanks!!" to ALL the Moms out there. I know my Mom holds a very dear place in my heart and I consider her a powerful influence that has helped shape my life. Thanks again, Mom, for all that you do. I love you! So, in honor of Moms, I want to share as our featured article a piece you might have seen in the past, but I think is worth repeating. It is Success Lessons I Learned from My Mom. Enjoy!

You Are Made for Success!
Chris Widener

P.S. Today's issue is going out to 112,231 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. Chris Widener Mother's Day Gifts!
5. More Information

1. Charting Your Course to Success Article

Success Lessons I Learned From My Single Mom by Chris Widener

I was at a dinner party some time ago when someone posed this question: Who has influenced your life the most? I thought for a moment and said what no one else said, "My mother."

You see, when I was four, my dad died. At the time, it seemed like we were on top of the world. My dad was making over $80,000 a year (in 1969), we were living in the largest house in one of the most prestigious country clubs in Seattle. Then my dad came down with cancer and was gone in 6 months.

Soon after, we found out that my dad had only $30,000 in life insurance (I don't sell life insurance, but I can tell you this - you need more!). My mom and I went from the upper bracket to the lower middle financial bracket almost overnight. A year after my dad's death, we were comfortably lower middle class.

As I reflect back on my life, most of what I am today I learned from a tough-as-nails woman who went to work and busted her tail to get me ready for life. I realize now how many success principles she displayed while living her life. The following success principles, though they can be and should be applied by all of us, are dedicated to all of those single moms out there. You are doing a tough job. Keep plugging away, be tenacious, and love your kids. They'll see your life and turn out all right.

Don't whine during tough times. You know, my mom got a bad deal, but as I look back on it, I cannot ever remember her complaining about her lot in life. That spoke volumes to me and has been a lesson ever since. Two people working, one whines, the other makes the most of the situation and works harder - who do you root for? Successful people don't whine, they work harder and beat the odds.

Be creative. My mom immediately went to selling real estate. She did all right, but she also bought old houses and fixed them up and sold them. We would move in and she would hire the workers from the real estate office to fix up the house on the weekends. A couple of years later, we would sell the house and pocket some much needed extra cash. I moved a lot, but you do what you have to when your back is against the wall. Successful people get creative when it comes to solving problems.

Sacrifice for others. I know we didn't have much growing up, but my mom always found ways to give me the extras. We would cut back here and there so that we could take the mandatory trip to Disneyland or get new athletic shoes. Finding purpose by sacrificing for others is one of the highest calling in success. Successful people live not only for themselves but for those around them as well.

Be independent. My mom didn't cut corners or get a leg up in anything. She worked hard for what she got. And she taught me to do the same. I can remember being taught to do things on my own that other parents were doing for their kids. Many of those kids still need their parents to get the job done. Successful people don't rely on others to do for them what they can do themselves.

Believe in yourself. When I would say I wanted to do something but didn't think I could, my mom would ask me, "Has anybody else ever done it?" I would say "Of course, lots of people." Her reply? "Then you can too. You are smarter than them!" Well, I probably wasn't smarter than them, but point well taken. If someone else has proven it can be done, then you have a chance! Successful people believe that they can do it!

Have a dream and pursue it - even if it takes years. My mom kept a dream alive and pursued it on the side as I grew up. The year I graduated from high school, my mom graduated from college. She was 54 years old. She kept her dream alive and worked at it bit by bit and finally it happened! Successful people dream big dreams and then complete them no matter how long it takes.

Stretch yourself. I can remember my mom taking me to business and real estate seminars when I was a twelve-year-old kid. Not because she couldn't find babysitting, but because she wanted me to learn something! Most parents wouldn't even think that their twelve-year-old could learn something there. Mine did. And I did learn a thing or two. Successful people stretch themselves.

Experience is the greatest teacher. My mom used to pull me out of school all the time and take me on these wild trips and journeys. I would say, "Uh, mom, shouldn't I be in school." She would always answer the same way, "Chris, we can't let school get in the way of your education!" Successful people understand that going to school can get you some knowledge and a degree, but nothing beats actually doing it.

Some things are worth more than money. One of the greatest sacrifices my mother made for me was when I began high school. I did well in sports and played in the evenings, so my mom quit selling real estate, which takes up a lot of evenings, and took a lower paying job as a secretary at the University. She rarely missed a game all through high school. Successful people realize there are some things money can't buy.

Chris Widener  

Chris Widener's inspirational books make special gifts for any occasion. SAVE now when you give Chris' top-selling books or proven CD and DVD personal achievement programs. Go here for complete details: http://www.yoursuccessstore.com/cw-gifts

2. Made for Success Quote and Commentary

"The real superstar is a man or a woman raising six kids on $150 a week." -- Spencer Haywood (Who rose from a home of poverty with lots of siblings to become a basketball superstar)

Chris' Commentary:
One of the problems with success literature is that most of the time success is left undefined, which means that it is usually interpreted by its default definition, which is material success or power. This leaves a lot of people outside and unable to feel as though they are making significant contributions to society! What about you? Do you sometimes feel as though you aren't a success? We need to remind ourselves that true success isn't just Hollywood's version of it! True success is doing your best, working from your strengths while improving your weaknesses, making the world a better place wherever you are, and helping others to become all that they can be!

Action Point: Take some time today to make a list of all the areas you are successful in! Feel good about that! You are making a difference. Don't let someone else define for you what success looks like! When you are done with that, then set some lofty goals and seek to reach even higher!

3. The Last Word...

As we prepare this week to celebrate Mother's Day, I thought the following article by my friend and colleague Jim Rohn was very appropriate.

The Best Gift to Give Yourself and Others by Jim Rohn

I'm often asked the question, "How can I best help my children, spouse, family member, staff member, friend etc. improve/change?" In fact that might be the most frequently asked question I receive, "How can I help change someone else?"

My answer often comes as a surprise and here it is. The key to helping others is to help yourself first. In other words, the best contribution I can make to someone else is my own personal development. If I become 10 times wiser, 10 times stronger, think of what that will do for my adventure as a father... as a grandfather... as a business colleague.

The best gift I can give to you, really, is my ongoing personal development. Getting better, getting stronger, becoming wiser. I think parents should pick this valuable philosophy up. If the parents are okay, the kids have an excellent chance of being okay. Work on your personal development as parents; that's the best gift you can give to your children.

If you have ever ridden in an airplane, then you might have noticed the oxygen compartment located above every seat. There are explicit instructions that say "In case of an emergency, first secure your own oxygen mask and then if you have children with you then secure their masks." Take care of yourself first... then assist your children. If we use that same philosophy throughout our whole parental life, it would be so valuable.

If I learn to create happiness for myself, my children now have an excellent chance to be happy. If I create a unique lifestyle for myself and my spouse, that will be a great example to serve my children.

Self-development enables you to serve, to be more valuable to those around you; for your child... your business... your colleague... your community... your church.

That's why I teach development skills. If you keep refining all the parts of your character, yourself, your health, etc., so that you become an attractive person to the marketplace - you'll attract opportunity. Opportunity will then begin to seek you out. Your reputation will begin to precede you and people will want to do business with you. All of that possibility is created by working on the philosophy that success is something you attract by continually working on your own personal development.

-- Jim Rohn

4. Chris Widener Mother's Day Gifts!

It's not too late to give mom that special gift of personal development that she'll cherish for a long time.

With that in mind, I've put together a Mother's Day gift-worthy selection of my top books along with proven personal achievement and success CD and DVD packages. They're perfect for giving to mom for Mother's Day. Plus, you can SAVE when you buy! Don't wait to get that special gift for your mom.

Go here for complete details: http://www.yoursuccessstore.com/cw-gifts or call 877-929-0439.

5. More Information

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