Chris Widener's Ezine
June 3, 2009
Issue 114

Welcome!

One of the primary goals of this Ezine is to give you positive input that'll help fuel your attitude and success. You see, the mind tends to build on itself, so when we begin to go in one direction, i.e. worry, it can become a slippery slope. One thing we must do is get our thoughts back on track with positive ideas. When circumstances have got you against the emotional wall, get with a good friend who can encourage you. Listen to a tape by Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar or another motivational speaker. Pick up a good book and give it a read. Whatever external influence you can get to put your attitude back on the positive side of the tracks - do it! It must be one of our first goals to start plugging good things into our minds to fuel our attitudes. I hope this issue provides you a number of positive ideas to build on!

You Are Made for Success!
Chris Widener

P.S. Today's issue is going out to 112,065 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. Your Invitation to an Exclusive SUCCESS Resource . . .
5. More Information

1. Charting Your Course to Success Article

The Twin Actions of Accomplishment

When it comes to achieving accomplishments there are two foundational actions that must take place. When these two actions take place, and take place in the right order, you will become unstoppable. You will also enter into an elite group of people who actually do both.

You see, most people are given to only one or the other, and in doing so negate their opportunity to accomplish what it is that they want to accomplish. What are these two actions?

Intake and output.

Think about it. Do you want to have a healthy body? You must take in proper food and output vigorous exercise. Do you want to be financially fit? You must intake income and output investments.

The same is true in our personal and professional lives. But what specifically do we intake and output?

We intake information and we output effort through the exercise of our will.

The twin actions of accomplishment then are the intake of information and the exercising of our will.

As I said, most people do one or the other. They are simply information addicts or they are action addicts. You have some who go to every seminar in the world and then never exercise their will to put it into practice. Others are simply a flurry of action but going in no specific direction.

When you only intake information you become fat! Not physically fat but personally fat. You become lethargic. You become frustrated because all of this information was supposed to change your life!

When you only exercise your will and become a tornado of activity you become spent. You become tired because you aren't achieving anything but a busy schedule!

But when you put these two together - WOW! Look out because you will turn the world upside down! So let's look at these two a little closer.

How can you intake information?
1. Choose as close friends people who will challenge and stimulate you intellectually and personally.
2. Go back to school.
3. Buy success products and listen to them.
4. Read books.
5. Go to a seminar.
6. Get involved in an ongoing discussion group with people who want to grow.

How can you exercise the will? This is a bit simpler but not so easy.
1. You simply must act on the information.
2. Eat better foods - put down the ice cream.
3. Save more money - stop spending on superfluous items.
4. Lose weight - start walking every day.
5. Manage your time - shut off the TV.

All of these things we know what to do, but we must simply do it.

Are you a person who has all the info? Then act.

Are you a person who acts but doesn't get anywhere? Then learn.

Intake information, exercise the will. The twin actions of accomplishment.

Chris Widener  

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2. Made for Success Quote and Commentary

"Life is formed from the inside out. What I am inside determines the issues in the battle of life." -- Dr. William Hornaday

Chris' Commentary:
Everything that happens in our outside world begins in our inside world. Our actions start as our thoughts, either conscious or subconscious. Our thoughts are determined largely by what we dwell on in our minds, what we set our minds to. What this tells me is that to a great degree, we can change our outside world, how we live it and how we experience and interpret it, by changing our thinking, by renewing our mind. Quite simply, there is a lot of junk out there that can warp our thinking if we let it get into us. Depression, anger, fear, worry and the like, certainly affect our ability to succeed, so we ought to do all we can to change on the inside!

Action Point: What kind of input are you giving yourself? Does it foster strong moral character? Does it develop a positive attitude and self-image? Take some time today to read a book or listen to some material that will change you on the inside. In doing so, you will also be changing what eventually goes on on the outside!

3. The Last Word...

In keeping with our theme of positive input toward greater success, here's an article from popular personal achievement author Harvey Mackay. Enjoy!

Harness Your Brainpower by Harvey Mackay

Knowledge is power.

How much do you know about everything? How much do you know about a lot of things? Okay, how much do you know about a few things?

If these seem like odd questions, stop and ponder what you know versus what you don't. Then consider how you would get along if you needed good information on topics that were outside your comfort zone.
As former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson said, "I not only use all the brains I have but all that I can borrow."

I would add this: and all that I can buy, if necessary.

I rely on experts for all kinds of information. I preach the importance of building a network of experts before you need them so that they are there when you do. Whether it's a surgeon, realtor, auto mechanic or a master salesperson, I want the best. And I will return the favor whenever I can, whether it's business advice; a reference; or tickets to a sporting event, concert or the theatre.

But let me make this very clear: I also rely on my own instincts, because eventually, it all comes back to me. I weigh the information I receive from others, and make the best judgment I can. For instance, I am the first to admit that most technology baffles me. But show me how a new gizmo can make my life easier, my business more successful, save me time, or just add to my fun, and I'm sold. That's why I use a Blackberry.

I try to absorb and retain as much information from my experts as I can. You never know when it will come in handy, or when you will find another application for it.

Carl Ally, founder of Ally & Gargano, one of the 20th century's most successful advertising agencies, had an interesting take on knowledge: "The creative person wants to be a know-it-all. He wants to know about all kinds of things: ancient history, nineteenth century mathematics, current-manufacturing techniques, flower arranging and hog futures. Because he never knows when these ideas might come together to form a new idea. It may happen six minutes later or six months or six years down to road. But he has faith that it will happen."

All of us have the ability to gain more knowledge. The brain is amazing. While the old theory that we use only 10 percent of our brains has been widely debunked, there's plenty of evidence that we can increase our brainpower, retention and focus. Plenty of books and websites offer all kinds of help. I'm not endorsing any specific method, but I would encourage you to check out ways to expand your horizons.

In the meantime, you can take some basic steps to improve your knowledge:

 • Read. Pick out books, newspapers, websites, encyclopedias, anything with information that teaches you something you didn't already know. Play Trivial Pursuit or watch Jeopardy. Learn something new every day. In my opinion, there are no such things as useless facts. If it's part of our world, it's worth knowing. I will get on my soapbox here again: embrace lifelong learning.

 • Listen. Sounds simple enough, but it's so easy to be distracted. Focus on the speaker. If you don't hear it the first time, ask the person to repeat it. Make sure you understand what's been said. You will be surprised what you can learn.

 • Pay attention to what's happening around you. According to MENSA, the organization for people with high IQs, current research shows that at least 52 percent of our intelligence is based on our environment.

 • Exercise and eat healthy. What's good for the body is also good for the brain. Another reason not to put off taking care of yourself!

 • Get some sleep. Our country is chronically sleep-deprived, which negatively affects our thought processes. So along with "beauty sleep," go for the "smart sleep."

You will soon learn that you are capable of more than you imagined. You will also learn to recognize your limitations. If you know that you don't know something, or don't know how to find an answer, you'll know it's time to ask for help. Tap into all the brains you need—they just might not all be housed in your head.

Mackay's Moral: Sometimes being smart means recognizing when you're not.

-- Harvey Mackay

4. Your Invitation to an Exclusive SUCCESS Resource . . .

Darren Hardy, publisher of SUCCESS magazine, has got a secret weapon to share with you. He calls it the...Cheat Sheet to Success!

He's so confident you’ll love this secret weapon that he's willing to guarantee it!

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5. More Information

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