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Achieving Goals With The Ready, Fire, Aim Attitude

Achieving Goals With The Ready, Fire, Aim Attitude
By Tim Whiston

You don't need to have all your ducks in a row before taking positive action. If you want the best for yourself and for your business, don't be afraid to commit and then fine tune on the fly.

Many people avoid the process of setting formal goals because it can be scary business. It takes a lot of nerve to commit to a course of action and keep working toward your objective with a "no matter what" attitude.

But the thing to remember is your plans can always be changed down the road if needed. A goal simply represents the focusing of your intention on a specific objective, and is not some rigid, unforgiving contract that is chiseled in stone.

State your intention and commit to the appropriate course of action. Then as progress develops determine whether to stay on course or change direction.

Successful people are able to follow their intuition and make decisions quickly. As they move forward they are ready to adjust their strategy to fit any major changes they encounter.

Unsuccessful people, on the other hand, have the habit of taking forever to commit to decisive action, but are then likely to change their direction very quickly. In essence, these folks are afraid to act, and then when they finally work up the nerve to make a decision, they bail out if things don't work out for them in the first ten minutes.

To be successful with any venture, business or personal, you have to know exactly what it is you want and then commit to this goal as if your life depends on it. Declare your target and hit it hard; if the target moves you move as well.

The specifics almost always become clear to the person who visualizes his or her final destination and then leaps into action with the intention of making this vision a reality.

A guided missile doesn't fly directly from the launch device to the target; it constantly veers off course and is redirected by the sophisticated guiding system it is equipped with. Successful entrepreneurs have this same ability to launch their plans, zero in on the prize as they move forward, and finally hit their target with amazing accuracy.

Don't waste precious time sweating all what ifs. Once you know what you want to do just get the ball rolling and make your adjustments as you go along.

Decide right now to trust your intuition and plot a course for your future without fear or hesitation. Have confidence in your ability to choose your own destiny. Ready. Fire. Aim.

Not only is this method more productive than planning a project to death and then taking action, it's a lot more fun.

Tim Whiston is a professional writer and entrepreneur living in the southeastern U.S. He enjoys marketing and helping others achieve their dreams of success. For more great content on Entrepreneurship and Positive Thinking be sure to check out his blog.

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The Prevailing Thought to Your Destiny

The Prevailing Thought to Your Destiny
By Mark A. Singh

Our lives can be likened to a ship on the great sea of Life. However, as with any ship on the sea, there must be purposeful navigating in order to get from one point to the other. Otherwise the ship will be aimless and that is not a good thing. Our lives cannot be carried about with the winds and the waves. If our lives go wherever the winds and waves take us, then we have no say in where we end up. There is a popular saying that goes something like, "whatever will be will be." That is the attitude that represents the opposite of purposefully navigating through life.

The question then is how does one know that they are purposefully navigating their lives? The answer lies in the prevailing thought. Simply step back and see what it is you think about the most. What kind of thought is it? Is it a dream or is it just idle "junk" thoughts? The answer you are looking for is a thought along the lines of a dream or aspiration. Our mind is a gift , not to spend time musing on idle thoughts or fantasies. Rather the mind is like the drawing board of our creative nature to build our lives into whatever we desire. The prevailing thought is a picture of where we want to be. If we keep our minds on that picture, we will chart the course of our lives in that direction. To navigate towards the dream or destination requires two important navigation tools. Just like a ship that requires a compass, we need a compass to keep us on course. Do you know what that compass is?

Our Tongue. To get to the desired destination shown to us in the prevailing thought, our words must line up with it. For example, an athlete whose prevailing thought is on winning the championship, will not be caught saying, "we will never win the championship." You will probably never find a team that has won a championship, surprised that they have won (as if they were not expecting to win at all). Listen to their pre-game conversations and hear the confidence in their words. There will be no words that are contrary to the desired result, the championship. The second important navigation tool is the ship's wheel, which is our Actions.

Taking corresponding action with our words will bring us to the destination of the prevailing thought. The same championship team did not just say, "we are going to take the championship this year," and then went home and watch TV. Any championship team will attest to the hard work and time they put in on the practice fields and in the weight rooms etc. Discipline, commitment and dedication are required. Life will not give us anything that is worth achieving for free or for a cheap price. If we are quick to give up, Life will not toss us any "freebies." We will be left empty. Life does not play "politically correct" games that require it to be fair to everyone. If your prevailing thought is not one of a desired destination, then change it by clearing your mind of junk. Everyone of us has destiny wired in us. So if you focus on it, the prevailing thought will become clear to you. When it does, lock into the picture. Then use your words and corresponding action to take you there.

Copyright © 2008, Mark A. Singh. All rights reserved.

Mark A. Singh
For more Life changing Principles, please visit my site:
Leading In Life

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Goal Setting - A Mountain Of A Goal Or Just A MoleHill

Goal Setting - A Mountain Of A Goal Or Just A MoleHill
By Shafir Ahmad

If a task is worth doing, it is worth doing well.

If the task seems unsurmountable and like a mountain, we could be crippled by the fear of trying to tackle that fearsome mountain.

Yet, no mountaineer would aim in a straight line for the summit. To do it well, any mountaineer who intends on reaching the top, and returning alive, has to have not only a plan, but a series of goals, or stages, each of which can be achieved in far more manageable segments of the overall path.

So how does one go about achieving such worthy goals? We have to beak down each step of the way into a manageable task. We could be wasting a lot of time in the fear of the giant task.

The first step is to be honest with ourselves about our misuse of time. Why exactly are we wasting so much of it? Perhaps it is because the whole project can seem so daunting, that it becomes a mountain in our eyes, and we would rather turn away and make a cup of coffee instead.

Many people have strategies they use to try to improve the rate of productivity, and improve the management of their work time. To do it well this can involve everything from the humble to do list to professionally written time tracking software or goal setting software.

However, the danger can often be that those who already have a wealth of experience when it comes to procrastination simply use these techniques to hide behind the fact that they are continuing to procrastinate.

A works project, even though it may seem a monumental task, can still be broken into chunks. Whether you are using clever software to create printable to do lists, or creating your own manual schedule on the back of an envelope, breaking the project down will provide you with a much greater sense of capability.

Each stage then can be thought of as a project or task in itself, none of which are as great as the whole. Once a mountaineer has completed most of the stages, the summit seems a relatively small achievement, yet as part of the whole it is tremendous.

And just as easily, you can breakdown your own personal mountain into molehills to get all your work done.

And now, I'd like to invite you to get free instant access to a 7-Part eCourse on Secrets To Better Time Management at http://www.PlanYourTimeNow.com where you can discover more ways to use time effectively.

Shafir Ahmad of http://www.ShafirAhmad.com is the author of "The Experts Guide to Managing Your Time".

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Preserving the Vision to Achieving Success

Preserving the Vision to Achieving Success
By Mark A. Singh

Many people never accomplished their goals or dreams, not because they did not have the resources to do so, but because they lost the vision. A vision is a very powerful component to achieving one's goals. Usually when we set out to accomplish something great, we usually lack the resources to do so. A very few people can just decide to write a book that becomes a bestseller. Even if they have the money, they need the time. Even if they have the money and time, they need years of experience and knowledge of the subject. So while resources are lacking at present, there is one thing that is available; The Vision.

Vision is what the finished product looks like. A baker does not see the flour, eggs, butter, etc. when they set out to bake a cake. The baker envisions a cake; the finished product. Then they begin to work with the flour, eggs, butter, etc. to produce the finished products. Likewise, whatever it is that you are trying to accomplish needs to be envisioned and it needs to be a very clear vision. If the vision is blurry then the steps to getting to the end result will be blurry.

So then if the vision is so important to accomplishing a task or reaching a goal, then it needs to be protected. Your vision, believe it or not, is as much an asset as your time and money you are investing towards your goal. In fact, the vision is the most important resource you are working with. Life will present a variety of distractions that can quench the fire of the vision. However, if you would see the distractions as 'smoke and mirrors', you will do well in protecting the vision. As long as the vision remains clear and burning, progress towards the end result is being made. If you loose sight of the vision, you are moving away from the finish point.

So think about your vision for a minute. Are you trying to accomplish goals in your life (family, school, career) without a clear vision in mind? Then I would venture to say that you are frustrated. You are frustrated because the vision, which is the blueprint to your dreams is not clear. Or worst, you do not have a blueprint at all!

So first you must re-focus your mind to see what it is you are aiming towards. Frame the vision in your mind and then proceed. There is a saying in the Bible that says, "Without a vision, the people perish." - We all need something to hold on to. The vision is what keeps you on course towards the goal.

Copyright © 2008, Mark A. Singh. All rights reserved.

Mark A. Singh
For more Life changing Principles, please visit my site:
Leading In Life

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Preserving-the-Vision-to-Achieving-Success&id=1098219

Change to Achieve Your Goals!

Change to Achieve Your Goals!
By Dale Stuemke

We're hearing a lot about change these days. Some people want it; some don't. A lot of people want change if they don't have to be involved. But really, change is part of life. It's going to happen whether we want it to or not. And many of us would rather it not!

Most people naturally resist change. We develop our normal routine in life, things are going OK, and we are comfortable with it. Then we identify a "change" we want. We get an idea or see something that makes us want something we don't have. This could be something physical, or it could be a different situation we want to be in. Maybe we even recognize that we have a new goal. But we continue in our normal routine hoping to reach that goal and after a while we realize it's not happening. Why not?

Someone once said "If you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you've always got." If we keep our normal routine, we are not going to get a new result; we are not going to reach that new goal.

That's why I've prepared this new series of articles about change. I'm addressing six topics tied to the word "change." Here's what the letters stand for:

C represents "Commitment." To reach a worthwhile, meaningful goal is going to require commitment to that goal on your part.

H represents "Help." Your odds of success are much better if you have help from someone. This could be a mentor or it could be a friend or family member who just provides moral support.

A represents "Action." You are going to take specific actions to progress toward your goal.

N represents "Negative." Negative is something you don't want. You will need to get rid of the negative.

G represents "Get Excited." You are on the path to a new goal, something you really want to achieve. This is great, so get excited about it.

E represents "Execution." You are going to execute a plan, a series of actions that move you toward your goal. No execution, no achievement!

Achieving goals takes more than just writing them out and thinking about them. It takes many things, and sometimes we can get lost because we don't have a structured approach. We can lose our focus on just what we're trying to do. As I expand on each of these letters and words, I hope to help you bring more of the process of goal achievement into your existence. That will help you maintain your focus, your action, your execution, and your excitement. Your helper will be there to encourage you along the way and to celebrate your progress with you. You will meet the challenge and be more confident about going after the next one.

So, this article is just the beginning, just as writing down your goal is just the beginning. As we progress through this article series, the word "CHANGE" will become a positive word. When someone tells you "I hate change; why can't things just stay the same?" you'll be ready to say "Really? I like change. In fact I've learned that change is going to help me reach my dreams!" They may not understand, but you will!

My goal is that these articles help you in your journey.

I'm a husband, father, and grandfather. I've lived a life I couldn't have dreamed of when I was young. I've learned that dreams and goals can be achieved with a good plan, focused effort, good mentorship, and commitment. Humans are designed to be achievers. Visualizing the future and setting and achieving goals to make it a reality is uniquely human! I'm still dreaming my future into existence and setting goals to make it happen. Visit: Launch Your Goals Blog. Feel free to comment!

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Change Your Life With 3-Step Goal Setting

Change Your Life With 3-Step Goal Setting
By Phillip Gwinn

How's your life?

Is everything going according to plan?

I see. You don't have a plan. You set goals and fail to meet them. Maybe I can help. I could recommend some goal-setting books? No? Not enough time to read a book you say... OK, how about if I just give you a short and sweet method for setting your goals that you can implement in about five minutes from now? OK then, and we're off.

Put yourself in the mindset of a soldier in the field. When he gets his orders over the radio to proceed with the mission, he doesn't have time to see if it matches the philosophy of the day. Instead he takes down the mission statement and executes on that within minutes. We will do this for you right now.

Your Missions (Goals) consist of three distinct elements that will come together to make a concise statement. This statement will be your goal. Now and forevermore goal-setting should be simple and quick. There is an additional benefit that we will cover later.

1. Task: This is a single action oriented statement. "Pay the Bills", "Build the Deck", "Complete the Fiscal Year 2008 Audit", and "Replace the Engine in my Car" will all fit the bill to a certain degree. For your first foray, they'll work fine. But, like anything else, the more you refine them, the better. Examples of Refinements include:

   Pay one hundred dollars on the Sears bill.

   Replace the Engine in my 1965 Ford Mustang.

2. Conditions: Think of the conditions you must work under to accomplish the action statement. What will assist you? What will limit you? Write it down. Using the "Pay the Bills" statement, your condition might be "between six and eight pm using only the funds in the household checking account". The main thing about conditions is that it is intended to focus your action specifically on the task.

3. Standards: How do you positively know when your goal is achieved? "Mission Accomplished" is a great banner, but without a solid benchmark to measure your progress it is only a slogan. You must set a standard that is reality based and measurable. For the "Pay the Bills" example you might say "until every bill due on or before the fifteenth of the month has a check written, deducted from the account, and postmarked no later than eight am on Saturday the sixth". Do not fall into the trap of making your standard something that cannot be specifically measured.

So, our completed goal now reads:

"Pay the Bills between six and eight pm using only the funds in the household checking account until every bill due on or before the fifteenth of the month has a check written, deducted from the account, and is in the mail no later than eight am on Saturday the sixth."

Notice that the goal specifies exactly what you are to accomplish, how to do it, and how to measure it. When you measure the final result there will be no doubt that you have accomplished the goal you set yourself.

Remember the additional benefit mentioned above? Here it is. This system also works to assign goals or tasks to subordinates. Using this method ensures that you will never be accused of not clearly communicating exactly what you want your team to accomplish. This system can also be nested so that the truly huge missions in life can be broken down into "bite-size" pieces.

That's it, a short and sweet system proven by countless uses at all levels by the US Military. All you have to do is sit down and apply it.

Thank you for reading. I'm Phil. I retired as a Master Sergeant from the US Marines after over twenty years of service. For more detailed information watch for my book "How to Succeed as a United States Marine". It will be published as an inexpensive eBook. This article will be included, expanded upon, and specific official sources will be provided as well. When it is completed it will be announced at http://www.squidoo.com/SuccessAsAUSMarine
And when time permits you can find me at http://answers.yahoo.com/ under the name MrPhil trying to answer military related questions.

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Learning the Game

Learning the Game
By Cheri A Alguire

I can honestly say that - WHATEVER YOUR GOAL - learning the game, becoming a student of the game, will help you get the results you want. Why? Because you will take the time to inform yourself of the path ahead, and by doing so, you will increase your chances of success by a very large margin.

Regardless of the event, the industry, or the focus of your goal - it is critical to learn about the game, the rules of the game, and the best way to meet the objective of the game. The only way to do this is to become a student of the game.

What does all this mean? Honestly, it's a lot simpler than it sounds! Delving in a little deeper, let's use an example of publishing a book along with an example of running. Say your goal is to publish a book you have written. You will want to follow these steps:

1. Learn About the Game: Determine the category your goal falls in. In the example of publishing, is your book fiction or non-fiction? In the example of running, are you interested mainly in getting fit or, do you need to know more about endurance for, say, a half-marathon?

Once you know the category your goal falls in, you will know where to begin gleaning information to educate yourself. If you have written a non-fiction book on Chinese Wedding Traditions, for example, learning about publishers that focus on fiction isn't going to help you much. Taking that a bit further, you will need to focus on the type of non-fiction book you are wanting to market.

Likewise, if you are mostly interested in endurance training, learning the ins and outs of strengthening your body for a half-marathon are most important on your list. While you could certainly receive worthwhile information by looking at fitness as a whole, you needed to focus more in order to truly "get it."

Know your goal. Know the goal's industry. Know the category.

2. Learn the Rules of the Game. Okay, so you know the category your goal falls into. Now, it's time to learn the rules for that category. Again, using publishing as an example, you want to find the best publisher for your book on Chinese Wedding Traditions. Where do you start? What about the example of learning how to gain endurance for running a half-marathon? Where would you start?

Regardless of the industry, regardless of the category, there are people who have gone before you. Many of those people have written books, articles, created Web sites, and train or teach others how to be successful. These are the resources you want to tap! I recommend starting on the Internet because it's a free resource that can give you a ton of information very quickly.

After you've spent some time researching on the net, you may find books, audio-books, DVDs, or even organizations devoted to what you're trying to learn about. It's completely up to you how you choose to educate yourself at this point. You can join some of these organizations, hire a trainer or a coach, purchase a book or five, or any combination of the resources available to you that you want.

Educate yourself. Study the rules. Learn the rules.

3. Learn the best way to meet the Objective of the Game. You've spent some time educating yourself on the ins and outs of the industry and the category of your goal. You have a lot more information about this than you previously did - CONGRATULATIONS! Now, you take this information and you apply it to your personal goal.

Back to our example of publishing a non-fiction book on Chinese Wedding Traditions, the research conducted should give a clear idea of the correct publishers that would be interested in this type of book. Along with this, the knowledge of how to approach these publishers should also have been learned. Now, you know the proper way to begin meeting your objective.

In the goal of running a half-marathon, you should learn about running in particular. How you need to train and what to do each step of the way, such as, the best way to increase your endurance, stretching exercises for before and after you run, and additional tips that will help you plan your attack. All of this knowledge will allow you to better plan so you will be ready to run a half-marathon when the time comes.

Research the rules. Understand the rules. Plan your attack.

4. Becoming a Student of the Game. By following the above three steps, you can become a student of any game! This is the best way to achieve the goal in front of you, regardless of what your goal is.

You absolutely need to acclimate yourself as much as possible. This will allow you to SUCCEED, which is the point of making a goal, isn't it?

When you take the time to educate yourself and plan accordingly, even the seemingly most difficult objectives become easier to manage.

ü Learn About YOUR Game.

ü Learn the Rules of YOUR Game.

ü Meet YOUR objective.

People all over the world are learning new things every day. Education is an important facet in life, in all professions, and in almost every single thing we do.

When you were a child, you had to learn to tie your shoes. When you were a teenager, you had to learn how to drive. When you entered college and/or the workforce, you had to learn the rules of your surroundings. Our entire lives are made up of "learning the game" and of being a "student of the game." Meeting your goals are no different!

Business and Life Coach Cheri Alguire has partnered with hundreds of Real Estate Professionals and Small Business Owners to help them become more successful in business and in life. Coach Cheri specializes in Coaching and Training for Small Business Owners, Working Mothers, Real Estate Agents and Managers. Learn more at http://www.NextLevelServices.net and http://www.CoachCheri.com

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Lifelong Learning - Secret To a Privileged Life

AchievementRadio.com's

Lifelong Learning - Secret To a Privileged Life
By Steve Wickham

A lack of knowledge is a great disadvantage in life. It means we don't get opportunities, can't be trusted, and need to be 'looked after,' reminding us of when we were children. Knowing what is needed to succeed in life and having the ability to get there is crucial in avoiding frustration, which is commonly defined as having our goals or aspirations blocked or unsatisfied. No one wants to be frustrated. A commitment to lifelong learning and the acquisition of knowledge and wisdom is the secret to a privileged life few end up living.

Some people simply 'don't know what they don't know.' It's called unconscious incompetence. They're ignorant and it's not a very powerful position to be in. We'd surely not want this result personally or for any of our dear family or friends, yet we persist in our ignorance so often by not engaging in the learning process. There are a thousand learning opportunities every day - are you being at least somewhat attentive to them?

We need to make it our business to know things that affect our lives, and seek to know the truth and common sense of reality. We need to know in diligence what we must do and what we must not do in order to succeed in life.

Ignorant behaviour harms others as well as you. Anyone you rely upon will ultimately suffer because of your lack of knowledge. Commit yourself to becoming a life learner. You could try some of these things:

Take a course; anything from a short-term course to a degree.

Ask people questions about things you're curious about. Curiosity is endearing and you will find people seeing you as more attractive purely because you are seen as a 'humble learner.'

Set some goals on learning. Set them high. Ten years from now you could have a Master's degree or doctorate. You might simply want to broaden your life experience.

Read books. Get involved in the history of the world for instance... it's a fascinating place, the world, with many fascinating people who've lived over the course of history.

Limit the amount of useless information you take in. i.e. television, magazines, some newspapers, tacky/tabloid media etc.

Exercise discernment in which people you speak and listen to. Find good role models and model their desirable behaviours onto yourself.

Keep a journal and make regular, in not daily, entries. Take time to reflect on what you've learned each day. This has the effect of deepening the experience, making it more meaningful.

Lifelong learners think more and as a result have more joy in life. They have more personal power and are naturally endearing people. Socially speaking, they're also interesting to be around. One of best advantages however is the legacy you leave to your children and grandchildren; of knowledge and its acquisition.

Finally, focus not just on acquiring information but also focus on developing your character; that is, become a better person, morally. Now that's the epitome of learning!

© Copyright 2008, Steven John Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Steve Wickham is a safety and health professional (BSc) and a qualified Christian minister (GradDipDiv). He is also has training and leadership Diplomas. His passion in vocation is facilitation and coaching; encouraging people to soar to a higher value of their potential. Steve's key passion is work / life balance and re-creating value for living, and an exploration of the person within us. His highest goal is doing God's will, in enhancing his life, and the lives of others.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Lifelong-Learning---Secret-To-a-Privileged-Life&id=1070447

Erase Hate - One Person At A Time

AchievementRadio.com's

Erase Hate - One Person At A Time
By Joi Sigers

In 1998, on a deserted road, 21 year old Matthew Shepard was beaten, tied to a fence, and left to die. Tragically, 3 days later, that's exactly what happened.

Was he guilty of a crime that vigilante justice insisted he atone for? Had he cheated on or wronged someone for the last time? Was someone settling a score? What had this beloved son done to "deserve" to be tortured and murdered?

In a sentence? Matthew Shepard was gay. His young life was brutally ended for that reason alone.

I cannot even begin to imagine a more horrific or terrifying death. The pain, the fear, the helplessness, and the suffering. I also cannot even begin to imagine something else: The HATE. How can any human have so much hate inside of them that they would do this to another person? How could anyone be so demonic and so unspeakably evil?

Unfortunately, Matthew Shepard wasn't the first victim of a hate crime or the last. No race, sex, denomination, or individual is safe from hate crimes. Anyone could be targeted, actually, because we're all different. Christians, blacks, gays, latinos, Jews, native Americans... the list goes on and on. History has proven that hate, when fed a continual diet of rage and intolerance will lead to unspeakable crimes.

Some people think nothing can be done about it, so why even try. Fortunately, at least as many people know that love is greater than hate and that to not try is somewhat like contributing to the hate.

Just a few thoughts:

1. Examine your own heart. Do you harbor hatred toward any group of people? If so, ask yourself how comfortable you are being filled with something as ugly and poisonous as hatred.

2. Listen to your children. Do they continually make fun of or condemn a certain type of person? Ask yourself how comfortable you are with your children being full of such hatred. One of the saddest things in the world is when parents raise their children to hate just as they hate. WHY WANT YOUR CHILDREN TO HATE INSTEAD OF LOVE?

3. Realize that we are all different. It may be a shock to one's system, but we are all hated by someone. Whether it's for our race, our religion, or our sex - we are all the object of someone else's hatred and intolerance.

After you take a good look inward, make the necessary changes outward. Hate destroys all of those it touches - those who harbor it every bit as much as those they harbor it towards.

Granted, we all have different views and different beliefs. There's nothing wrong with that. If one person is a Democrat and the other's a Republican - neither has done anything wrong. But when one develops hatred for the other and becomes so intolerant that they treat the other as though they're diseased, they fail to realize that the one who is diseased is actually themself.

Hatred is a disease. Love is the cure. Even if someone does something you don't agree with or understand, you should love them. Hating will destroy you long before it does them.

Matthew Shepard's family has set up a remarkable foundation in their beloved son's name. It's too late to save Matthew, of course, but the hope is that it isn't too late to save other sons and daughters, mothers and fathers..... Their message is a simple yet powerful one: Erase Hate. There are pendants and tees that shout the message out loud and proud.

The more of us who wear and live this message, the better. When the haters of the world see how completely outnumbered they are, perhaps they'll retreat to a corner and figure out how to get a life. Maybe then, when they step back out of the corner, they can actually enjoy life, contribute to society, live a life worth living, and allow everyone else to do the same.

Visit the Matthew Shepard Foundation's Web Site today. 100% of the net proceeds go to the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

As someone once said, "Self isn't something one finds, it's something one creates." Self Help Daily would love to help YOU create a masterpiece!

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Erase-Hate---One-Person-At-A-Time&id=1069738

Who Do You Want To Become

AchievementRadio.com's

Who Do You Want To Become
By Sharon L Good

Growing and changing is a natural part of our human development. We know this. When we're thinking about what's next for us, though, we tend to look back at our history to see what the next logical step is. But we may have dreams and passions we want to pursue that are not a linear outcome of what we've done before, so they don't feel doable. What do we do then?

Instead of creating our future out of our past, we can look at who we want to become. Usually, when we're looking toward our future, we think about what we want to *do*. But what about looking at who we want to *be*? Life is not just a string of accomplishments. It's a process in which we gain knowledge and experience and develop who we are.

When I was younger, I didn't think much about who I was becoming. I knew I wanted to be an actress from the age of 14, and I didn't care why. I pursued that path without further thought until I was in my 30s and found myself on a path of personal and spiritual growth. The question, How can I best serve? began to creep into my mind. While I realized that actors perform an important service, it wasn't the right kind of service for me anymore.

My next step was a foray into the world of publishing. I had no background in this field, but it was an opportunity to develop my writing skill and publish books that brought valuable tools and information and heart-warming stories into the world. It was a huge challenge to run a business and be responsible for bookkeeping and marketing and inventory. I grew tremendously and was proud of the books we published, but eventually, it ran its course and a new opportunity arose.

After 7 years of publishing, I happened upon an article about life coaching. We were still in the thick of publishing, and I certainly didn't need another career, but it kept tugging at me. After completing what turned out to be our last book, I enrolled in a coach training course. I loved it! This wonderful new profession - my new "best way to serve" - continues to allow me to have an even more direct, positive impact on people's lives. In working with my clients, as well as teaching and writing, I learn and grow every day.

In looking back, my career path makes a lot of sense. My acting experience has helped make me a better teacher and speaker. I continue to write and publish self-help materials that support my coaching focus. But as I began each new career, I had no idea why I was drawn to it or what it would bring. I only knew that I needed to step into a new challenge that would develop who I was as a person and a professional.

As we move to each new stage of life, a new sense of purpose is revealed to us. The things we did and who we were become a size too small, and we need to break out and seek new direction. It may be the logical next step from what we've been doing, or it may be a radical change. Either way, our new path calls on us to be willing to let go of the comfort of the old, familiar ways and open to learning new skills and new ways of being.

In the words of Shunryo Suzuki-Roshi, a 20th century Japanese Zen priest: "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few." Although you may have decades of life experience behind you, approach your new stage with beginner's mind.

By letting go of relying on what you already know - about life and about yourself - you'll discover wonderful new aspects of yourself that will move you forward in your development, as well as your accomplishments, and open new worlds. And down the line, when the time is right, yet another new and mysterious path will be revealed to you!

C 1998 - 2008 Sharon Good. All rights in all media reserved.

Sharon Good is a Life, Career and Creativity Coach located in New York City. She specializes in working with creative people to clarify their life and career goals and live their dreams. Sharon is the author of several books, including "Managing With A Heart" and "The Tortoise Workbook: Strategies for Getting Ahead at Your Own Pace," and teaches career workshops at the 92nd Street Y. Sharon can be found at her website, http://www.goodlifecoaching.com

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