Chris Widener's Ezine
November 2, 2005
Issue 26

Welcome!

Today is THE DAY! Jim Rohn and I recently finished our new novel, Twelve Pillars, a story I know you will find both compelling and impactful, and we just received our first shipment of books "hot off the presses" from our printer! So today you'll notice a definite "theme" in this weeks Ezine. :) The article, Success Quote and yes, even the Last Word are all related in some way to Twelve Pillars and/or the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan, which was both the inspiration and driving force behind my collaboration with Jim on this project. As we both said in the book's Preface, our desire and goal is to continue reaching as many people as we can and providing the timeless, fundamental truths that will propel each person to greater levels of success in their lives.

Jim and I are really proud of this new gem of a book, and the early feedback we have received has been overwhelmingly positive. People want something that is entertaining, easily "digestible" and just as easy to apply to their lives -- and Twelve Pillars is all the above and more! So, let me encourage you to make the next book you read, Twelve Pillars!

You Are Made for Success!
Chris Widener

In This Issue.......

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

1. Charting Your Course to Success Article

The Twin Actions of Accomplishment by Chris Widener
(excerpted from Week 52 of the One-Year Success Plan)

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 out put 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 seminars.
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


Chris Widener is an internationally recognized speaker, author and radio host. If you are interested in booking him to speak at your next event, please 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

"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." -- Jim Rohn

Chris' Commentary:
The life of the person who succeeds is lived, what I call, "counter-normal." The person who achieves greatness, whether it be in business, in spirituality, or family life, is the person who lives his or her life unlike others do. Most people live small lives, with small dreams. Most people will be derailed by small arguments. Not the person who will rise above the rest and succeed! Most people leave their future and their paycheck to the whims of someone else. Not the person who will succeed! No, let others be blown about by the winds of the day. Let others drift along with the masses, but not you. Remember - You were Made for Success!

Action Point: What area have you allowed to be dictated by someone else or some set of circumstances? Where has your life become too small? What small arguments have you stooped to have? Take control today by taking specific actions to raise your life to a new level - a level far above the masses!


3. The Last Word...

As I announced in my Welcome (and if you haven't noticed already, I'm just a little excited about this), my new book, co-authored with the GREAT Jim Rohn, is now available -- just released yesterday (and they are selling like "hotcakes")! So in this week's Last Word, I'd like to talk about one of the "Pillars" we explore in the book.

Written as a short novel, Twelve Pillars -- the title represent twelve principles we cover in the book -- was written as a result of our collaboration on the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan. And one of the principles, in particular, I have found myself talking about quite a bit, lately. Interestingly, it seems to resonate with most people. What I am talking about is the principle of association. That is, who you associate with and spend time with directly affects your success in life.

There is a very effective exercise, one I constantly use, that can be powerful in getting you to where you want to go in life.

Basically, you classify every single person you associate with into one of three categories:

Disassociation
Limited Association
Expanded Association

Disassociation may be needed for the people who keep you from becoming and living your dream. Maybe they have a toxic attitude or even an addiction that keeps them (and you if you are not careful) from being what you were created to be.

Limited association may be for those who you want to have some association with – or have to – but who really don't support your personal growth and development. People who fit this category may be a grumpy neighbor, an unsupportive family member or an old high school or college buddy who have no desire to grow. With this group, you must be diligent in not giving them too much time or energy.

Expanded association is for those who, by spending time with them, you are challenged and encouraged to become all that you can be. People who fit this category are your good friends who support you, mentors, business associates committed to your success, and people who you don't know, but you would like to get to know because you think they would be a great addition to your life.

Once you categorize everyone, then it becomes a matter of time management: Stop spending time with those in category one, watch your time with those in category two, and give more time to those in category three.

I am ruthless about this principle. It is one of the bedrocks of my success. Basically, I hang around with great people with whom I can be in mutually beneficial relationships. By doing so I place myself in a great position to learn, grow and succeed.

Take some time this week to do this, and then live by this principle. After doing it for even a short while, you will begin to realize that your life is changing for the better. Do it for a couple of years and you will realize your life isn’t even remotely the same as it once was! -- CW
 

4. NEW RELEASE! Twelve Pillars by Jim Rohn & Chris Widener

5. More Information