Chris Widener's Weekly Ezine
June 17, 2005
Issue 15

Welcome!

Today, I've been thinking of legitimate reasons to delaying pursuing your dreams and goals, and I think I've come up with a solid list of five. Having said that, here is my best list:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Okay, to be frank, there are NO great reasons to delay pursuing your dream! You aren't getting any younger and before you know it you will be looking back at your life wondering where it went. Don't leave yourself any regrets: get yourself going TODAY and pursue that dream!


You Are Made for Success!
Chris Widener
 

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In This Issue.....

1. Charting Your Course to Success Weekly Article
2. Made for Success Quote and Commentary
3. The Last Word...
4. Seeds of Greatness - The Value-Based Family Enrichment Program Special Introductory Offer!
5. More Information

1. Charting Your Course to Success Weekly Article

The Top Six Ways to Stay Motivated by Chris Widener

I receive many emails from people that basically ask the same question: How can I keep myself motivated long term? This seems to be quite a common dilemma for many people so I want to address it because it can be done! Here are my tips for staying motivated:

1. Get Motivated Every Day.
Zig Ziglar was once confronted about being a "motivational speaker." The guy said to him, "You guys come and get people hyped up and then you leave and the motivation goes away. It doesn't last, and then you have to get motivated again." Zig reminded the gentleman that baths are the same way but we think it is a good idea to take a bath every day! It is true that motivation doesn't last.  We have to renew it each and every day. That is okay. It doesn't make motivation a bad thing. We simply have to realize that if we want to stay motivated over the long term, it is something we will have to apply to ourselves each and every day.

2. Have a Vision for Your Life.
The root word of motivation is "motive." The definition of motive is, "A reason to act." This is the cognitive or rational side of motivation. It is your vision. You have to have a vision that is big enough to motivate you. If you are making $50,000 a year, it isn't going to motivate you to set your goal at $52,000 a year. You just won't get motivated for that because the reward isn't enough. Maybe $70,000 a year would work for you. Set out a vision and a strategy for getting there. Have a plan and work the plan.

3. Fuel Your Passion.
Much of motivation is emotional. I don't know quite how it works but I do know THAT it works. Emotion is a powerful force in getting us going. Passion is an emotion, so fuel your passion. "Well, I like to work on logic," you may say. Great, now work on your passion. Set yourself on a course to have a consuming desire for your goal, whatever it is. Do whatever you can to feel the emotion and use it to your advantage!

4. Work Hard Enough to Get Results.
You can build on your motivation by getting results. The harder you work, the more results you will get and the more results you get, the more you will be motivated to get more. These things all build on one another. If you want to lose weight, then lose the first few pounds. When the belt moves to the next notch you will get fired up to get it to the notch beyond that!

5. Put Good Materials into Your Mind.
I can't say this enough - listen to audios. I still listen to audios regularly. I buy audio clubs from other speakers and I learn and grow. Their successes motivate me to get my own successes! Read good books. Read books that teach you new ideas and skills. Read books that tell the stories of successful people. Buy them, read them, and get motivated! Buy great music and listen to it. I just did a spinning class at the club today. Whenever a good song came on I was actually able to get motivated to ride faster! It gets you going and motivates you!

6. Ride the Momentum when It Comes.
Sometimes you will just be clicking and sometimes you won't. That is okay. It is the cycle of life. When you aren't clicking, plug away. When you are clicking, pour it on because momentum will help you get larger gains in a shorter period of time with less energy. That is the momentum Equation! When you are feeling good about how your work is going, ride the momentum and get as much out of it as you can!

These are the top six ways to stay motivated:
Get motivated every day.
Have a vision for your life.
Fuel your passion.
Work hard enough to get results.
Put good materials into your mind.
Ride the momentum when it comes.

These are simple principles, that when you put them to work regularly, will change your life by keeping you motivated all the time! So what are you waiting for -- Get going!


Chris Widener


Chris Widener is an internationally 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

"At the end of your life, the only thing meaningful you will leave behind will be your family - so work the hardest at making it a success." -- Chris Widener

Chris' Commentary:
I have lots of goals for my life and tons of things I want to accomplish, but I realize that when I lay on my deathbed, not much will matter other than my family. I won't say, "Please, bring me the books and tapes I produced. I want to spend a few last moments with them." I won't say, "I'm glad I played so much golf." I won't ask that a pile of money be brought in so I can roll around in it one last time. No, in the closing moments of your life, you realize how you put too much value on things that were good and in of themselves, but you made into something so much more. Stephen Covey says that one of the habits of highly effective people is to begin with the end in mind. I agree. What do you want your last moments of life to be filled with? Regrets of missed opportunities or misplaced devotions? Or would you rather those moments be filled with the quiet satisfaction and warmth of the presence of those who lived your life with you? You get to choose, you know?

Action Point: Do whatever it takes, TODAY, to work at the relationships that matter most. Don't let anything else get in the way. Above all, take action!


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...

Today, I'd like to offer you something from Denis Waitley that really got me thinking about how quickly our children pass through our lives; because that is really what happens -- they're born and we only have a very short time to spend with them before they've grown and moved on to having lives and families of their own. So read, listen and plant the seeds of love, hope and achievement within each of your children's hearts -- while you have the opportunity! -- CW


Take A Moment by Denis Waitley

Take a moment to listen today
to what your children are trying to say,
Listen to them, whatever you do
or they won't be there to listen to you.

Listen to their problems, listen to their needs
Praise their smallest triumphs, praise their littlest deeds;
Tolerate their chatter, amplify their laughter,
Find out what's the matter, find out what they're after.

If we tell our children all the bad in them we see,
They'll grow up exactly how we hoped they'd never be;
But if we tell our children we're so proud to wear their name,
They'll grow up believing that they're winners in the game.

So tell them that you love them every single night;
And though you scold them make sure you hold them
and tell them they're all right, "Good night, happy dreams,
Tomorrow's looking bright."

Take a moment to listen today to what
your children are trying to say
Listen to them whatever you do, and
They'll be there to listen to you.


 

4. Seeds of Greatness - The Value-Based Family Enrichment Program Special Introductory Offer!

5. More Information