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Chris Widener's Weekly Ezine
March 31, 2005
Issue 04

Welcome!

When was the last time you took a trip to a truly amazing place?

In the next couple of weeks I will be taking my family to one to our favorite spots, Sanibel Island, Florida. We have been going there almost every year for nearly 20 years. It's an unique experience every time! But do you know what is an even more amazing trip to take? A trip to your future!

Think about it: How amazing can your future be? Your past will never change; it is your past. And your present is what it is. But... your future can be anything you want it to be.

Have you thought lately about what you want your future to be? And I don’t just mean seeing a wealthy person on TV and then "wishing" it was you. I mean really sitting down and envisioning your future. "Seeing" it so clearly in your mind's eye that you can actually "visit" there often?

Did you know that one of the keys to successful people achieving what they do is that they see the future before it becomes their present. And they spend their present creating that future they desire.

So, take a good vacation this year, but be sure to visit your future often so you can begin to create it today. And when your tomorrow becomes today, you will be glad you took that mental vacation!
 

You Are Made for Success!
Chris Widener


P.S. If you enjoy this week's edition and find it to be valuable, then if you would do me the favor of forwarding it to your friends, family and associates, it would be very much appreciated. If they would like to subscribe, have them send an email to: subscribe@chriswidener.com

Many Thanks!


In This Issue.....

1. Charting Your Course to Success Weekly Article
2. Made for Success Quote and Commentary
3. The Last Word...
4. More Information

1. Charting Your Course to Success Weekly Article

The Myth of What We Manage by Chris Widener

Perhaps it is merely semantics, but an underlying problem I find that people have as it relates to the success in their life lies in a proper understanding of what exactly it is that we manage. Think about it. We have time management (In fact, I have a seminar on this very topic, some of which is excerpted below), and financial management, and relational management, weight management, career management, and many, many more.

The fact is though, that we don't manage any of those things. What we do manage is ourselves, as they relate to those things. We don't manage time. Time clicks by, second by second, whether we do anything or not. What we do is manage ourselves, and our activities, as the time passes. We make choices as to what we will do and be involved in. The problem as well as the solution lies not with time, but with us.

We don't manage money. A pile of money will sit there forever if left alone. It won't grow or shrink. What we manage is ourselves and the decisions we make in regard to how we will spend the money. Getting the idea?

So as we live our lives and pursue success, one of the keys to grab on to is the idea that the most important thing we can manage isn't a thing at all - it is our self!

How then can we manage ourselves? Here are some thoughts.

Make sure that the above is firmly engrained in your thinking: I only manage myself. I can choose how I will act and react in every situation. Dwight D Eisenhower said, "The history of free men is not written by chance, but by choice, their choice."

Know your priorities. Do you know from top to bottom what your priorities are? Have you decided what the top ten things you want to spend your time on are? How about the same with your money? Only after you know these things can you properly manage yourself into choosing to live your priorities.

Learn to say "no" with a smile on your face. Here is where most of us fail. We do not choose to say "no" to those things that are not a matter of priority (the reason "why" is another newsletter article and probably a few counseling sessions at that!). Someone calls us up and asks us to do something for them (usually because they haven't managed themselves and would like our help picking up the pieces) and we say "Uh, I guess so." Then what? We usually kick ourselves for the rest of the day. "Why did I ever say yes?" Instead, practice this, "Gee, I am really sorry but I am not going to be able to be involved this time. I am sure you will be able to find somebody though." Go ahead and try it right now. Weird, isn't it? That is because we don't say it very often.

Schedule your priorities into you schedule or budget or whatever structure governs that area of your life. For example, do you have a financial budget that you yourself set? Then do you first and foremost spend your money in that way, say at the beginning of the month? If you do, you will eliminate even the opportunity to blow your money on impulse decisions and expenses because your money has already been committed into your priorities.

Remember, one of the greatest gifts God gave us is the ability to choose. And we can choose to manage ourselves appropriately and according to our priorities. As we do, we will find ourselves feeling less and less of the personal pain and frustration that we feel when we are out of control.

So this week, let's get goin' and manage ourselves in a way that takes us where we want to go!

Chris Widener


Chris Widener is a nationally recognized speaker, author and radio host. If you are interested in booking him to speak at your next event, go to http://www.chriswidener.com or send an email to speaker@chriswidener.com or call 877-929-0439 and ask for Hilary.



2. Made for Success Quote and Commentary

"Quality questions create a quality life. Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers." -- Anthony Robbins

Chris' Commentary:
Questions show an inquisitive mind. Questions show someone who wants to learn and grow, and that is the key to success. Those who will never go anywhere in life ask only, "Why do we have to do that?" Those who achieve much ask how things can be done better, how they may grow personally, how they may help others to a better life. Questions, questions, questions. Have you asked many questions lately? Do you want to grow? If so, begin to ask questions.

Action Point: Take some time today to take a specific area of your life. Maybe work, maybe home -- it doesn't matter. Begin to ask questions about it. Pretend you are an outsider looking in. What questions would that person ask of you if they were trying to help you grow that area of your life. Then, don't just come up with easy answers. Ponder the questions for a while. Let the answers come to you slowly.



Chris is the author of five books including his Newest Release, The Angel Inside - Michelangelo, Il Gigante, and Creating a Life of Power and Beauty. To order The Angel Inside go to http://www.jimrohn.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=440 or call 800-929-0434.



3. The Last Word...


This past July in Anaheim, California, I had the privilege of being the guest emcee and a featured speaker for one of Jim Rohn's rare Weekend Leadership Events. This was a unique experience and one of the most impactful aspects of the event was the Sunday Mastermind Session, where Jim Rohn and our guest speakers -- Denis Waitley, Brian Tracy, Charlie "Tremendous" Jones, Jerry Clark, Vic Johnson and Donna Krech -- answered audience questions and offered their unique perspective and advice on what has made them successful. And one of the consistent keys to all of our panel's success was the books they (and the audience) have read over the years. Well, a list was complied from the event; and I would like to share it with you, because like me, I'm sure you are always looking for one more good book to add to your reading list. So here is the list (in no particular order).

Mastermind Book List (Selected Books)

1. How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success
2. My Utmost for His Highest
3. As a Man Thinketh
4. One Minute Manager
5. Who Moved My Cheese
6. Life is Tremendous
7. Seeds of Greatness
8. Seasons of Life
9. The Bible
10. The Game of Life and How to Play It
11. How to Read a Book
12. The Pursuit of God
13. Think and Grow Rich
14. Leading an Inspired Life
15. Rich Dad, Poor Dad
16. Power of Focus
17. Power of Positive Thinking
18. Magic of Thinking Big
19. Maximum Achievement
20. Richest Man in Babylon
21. Laws of Success
22. Greatest Salesman that Ever Lived
23. How to Win Friends and Influence People
24. Greatest Networker in the World
25. You Were Born Rich
26. Winning Without Intimidation
27. Atlas Shrugged
28. Man's Search for Meaning
29. Acres of Diamonds
30. See You at the Top
31. 7 Habits of Highly Successful People
32. Lincoln on Leadership
 

Enjoy, happy reading and may you find many more clues on the map of your journey toward success in the pages of these books!


-- CW
 

If you would like more information about or to order the 2004 Jim Rohn Weekend Leadership Event package go to http://3day.jimrohn.com or call 800-929-0434. Also recently released is a 2-1/2 hour Sampler DVD containing highlights of the entire 24-hour program. For more information go to http://dvdsampler.jimrohn.com

 

4. More Information