Summary Of The Book "Say 'YES' To Our Potential" - Part Five (by 'Skip' Ross with Carole C. Carlson)

Article Title: Summary of the Book "Say 'YES' to your Potential" - Part Five (by 'Skip' Ross with Carole C. Carlson)
Submitted by: Craig Lock
Category (key words): Success, Personal growth, Self Help, Skip Ross, Motivation, Life purpose, Spiritual, Spiritual Gifts and Inspiration.
Other Articles are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles.html

Publishing Guidelines: This piece (as with all my articles) may be freely published, electronically or in print. .

"We share what we know, so that we all may grow."

*
Summary of the Book "Say 'YES' to your Potential" - Part Five
(by 'Skip' Ross with Carole C. Carlson)

Introduction:
Craig has been studing the amazing powers of the human mind,
as well as the "secrets of success" for the past two decades. This article (in point form for brevity) is largely based on my notes from a most inspiring and uplifting book by an American by the name, "Skip" Ross from many years ago (however the principles, I believe, are eternal truths). I am sharing this summary, the contents of the Amway man's work in the spirit of encouraging and hopefully even inspiring those people, who really want to reach their full potentials, achieving their dreams in life, whatever they may be "to just GO FOR IT". And as I write this summary, I too learn about these eternal principles.

Thank you sincerely, "Skip" and Carole for sharing (with humour even though "peppered" with a lot of "religious" quotations) your most uplifting words of wisdom in encouraging me to follow my passion and to reach for my personal dreams. I (in turn) am passing them on through the amazing power of the www, as my dream is helping others to realise their personal goals and dreams in life.

Now on the article (at long last!)...
*

Whatever you begin focussing on, you speak. We speak into existence problems we don't want. Spoken words reinforce the picture we may have in the mind ...and ultimately that picture may become reality. The power of the words we say can make the situations we desire, or the circumstances we want to avoid, come true. "He who masters his words will master his works.The power of your words can speak it into existence and make them come true. VERBALISE your future. Make positive statements of FAITH. So many people say: "Show me, let me see it, and then I'll believe it. Great achievers in life say: "I'll believe it ...
and then I'll see it."

* The Principle of ACTION: Do it now. Action is the key. Shakespeare: "Action is eloquence, the eyes of the ignorant are more learned than theirs".
We've got to believe in our dreams, but we've also got to ACT on them. Famous American financial tycoon and good friend of Napoleon Hill, Clement Stone said: "I think there is something more important than believing. Action! The world is full of dreamers; there aren't enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualise their visions." One of the most difficult steps is to begin. Getting started is the hardest part. It's way better than sitting still...even if it is the wrong move. Motion opens up new possiblities and directions. "Beginning is half done." Had there have been no action, Edison would not have perfected the electric lamp.
Momentum gathers an impetus of its own.

Many people live their lives tomorrow. The shortest writing course by authors is: "Do it."
One of the greatest energy drainers is procrastination. It is a thief that steals our dreams, our ambition, and our success. Olin Miller: "If you want to make an easy job seem hard, just keep putting it off right now." God gives you energy you never knew you had. The "three powerful friends" in life are: faith, command and action.
Goethe: "Begin the job and the work will be completed."
Create energy. There are very few overnight successes.
It took me twenty years to become an 'overnight success'.

Work is a 4-letter word.
Henry Ford said: "Work does more than get us our living, it gets us our life."

George Bernard Shaw: "I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. Life is no brief candle for me. It is a sort of splendid torch, which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."

The great composers do not start to work, because they are inspired; but become inspired because they are working. They don't waste time waiting for an inspiration. One of the greatest joys in life is having lots to do and then just doing it. So get engrossed.

...as I am writing this. Inspired too!

Leonardo Da Vinci: "Thou, O God, doth sell to us all good things at the price of labor. Work is the seed from which grows all good things you hope for...a man who's afraid of hard work better be brave enough to accept poverty."

Most people in the sales field fail, because of the people they fail to see, rather than the people they fail to sell.

Action is therapy and takes away depressive feelings.
Ask yourself this important question: What is the best use of your time right now? What are things you should be doing?

DO IT NOW
*
# THE PRINCIPLE OF FAITH
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
Faith tears down walls and builds bridges of hope in our lives.
It stands as the foundation stone to my whole approach to life. Faith is an absolute necessity - an essential ingredient to daily living.

The Law of Attraction (= Law of Belief) simply states that:
* "Whatever you deeply BELIEVE at the subconscious level, will materialize in your life"
* "It is done unto you as you BELIEVE"
* "What you deeply BELIEVE, you GET".

Belief is not a simple wish. The immense power of believing. The power of faith. It is the most important part of man, the most highly developed, our source of greatest energy. God gave us superb physical equipment. What makes man unique from animals is the ability to believe, to have faith - it's the best and brightest part of man. The "magic/miracle" of believing.

Faith is the pillar of strength that allows man to achieve the impossible, reach the unattainable and solve the unfathomable.
R.W Emerson: "All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen. I
I believe the foundation of faith is in God and the words of faith are in the Bible.
"If you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, move from here to there and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you" (Matthew 17:20).
My faith is small, but my God is all-powerful. Believe in the "God of the Impossible". Faith works in our lives, as God works in our faith. I have faith that God would work it out.
Faith is being totally receptive to what God has in store for you. "God without man is still God. Man without God is nothing."

Helen Keller was imprisoned in a world she could neither see nor hear. She lectured throughout the world and wrote many books, learned several languages and became a friend of some of world's most prominent people. "A simple child-like faith in a Divine Friend solves all the problems that come to us by land or sea."

I'm doing the same thing now, as I write this.

Keller learned to hope, to trust, to be happy through faith: Belief in God, in herself and in others.
The blind with their hand in God's can see more clearly than those of us who can see, but have no faith.
It's not if, but WHEN. Many people go through life pushing the 'if' button.

"Everything is possible for him, who believes (Mark 9:23)."
If we believe, all things are possible!

"Doubt sees the obstacles;
faith sees the way.
Doubt sees the darkest night,
Faith sees the day
Doubt dreads to take a step;
Faith soars on high.
Doubt questions, "who believes?"
Faith answers, 'I'."

Believe in yourself:
Faith in your ability, your worth, and your talents, knowing that God has given you talents you haven't used yet.

If you don't have faith for the large tasks of life, we can develop faith in ourselves for each small job that leads us to our determined destination.
When you have faith in God and in yourself, it is easier to have faith in others.
Faith is total commitment.
Need action. "Faith without deeds is dead" (James 2:26).

"Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe."
- St Augustine

"Our grand business in life is not to see what lies dimly at a distance; but to do what lies clearly at hand."
- Thomas Carlyle

"God will supply, but we must apply."

"Only he who can see the invisible, can do the impossible!"

Enough on faith... but where would we be without it..
*
Next

The Principle of ENTHUSIASM

Enthusiasm is one of the key attitudes for success.
Emerson said nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
Teach it to the young.
The Greek word 'en theos'literally means "God in us."
Enthusiasm is an attitude - it's a way of life.
"Put everything you've got into everything you do."

To be enthusiastic, ACT enthusiastically. It's an inward attitude, which shows in your face, your voice and the movements of your body.
Do your homework on the subject.
To be enthusiastic 'fall in love' with your subject (AND NOT YOURSELF).

Enthusiasm shows in everything we do - walking and standing;
it shows confidence or insecurity. We are judged by the body language we portray, as in a handshake or smile. A smile may lift another heart out of despondency. It doesn't cost anything; yet may lead a person to success and riches. An enthusiastic attitude says, "you're important/I like you". Be cheerful, force yourself to smile frequently.
Be a good news broadcaster, oozing enthusiasm.

"Don't spend your days stringing and tuning your instrument - start making music now."
- me
*
The Principle of SELF DISCIPLINE:

"Do what needs to be done, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not. The word is not punishment; but comes from the Latin equivalent of 'disciple' = 'to teach'.

We can't seperate discipline and desire. If the desire is strong enough burning within you to achieve a goal, the discipline can be developed. I'm Impressed by the strict training discipline of athletes. Like the young Japanese gymnast with a shattered knee. At first he said, "I can't do it, it's impossible".
To win the gold medal he had to score a 9.5 with his last floor exercise - a score better than he'd ever done in world competition.

He gritted his teeth, sacrificing the moment of excruciating pain to win the gold medal, landing on his shattered knee at the completion of the vault. No matter, the split second of excruciating pain was worth it for the gold medal- a small sacrifice necessary on the path to glory, forever - something that could never be taken away.

Natural athletes are people of discipline. Former American golfing great, Arnold Palmer practised 8 hours a day, day after day using the same club to hit 2000 balls one after the other.

(Me and my writing, perhaps????)

Begin with those things you CAN control.

Most people give up on a course of self-discipline; because of the vastness of the commitment. The marathon runner may never begin, if he considers the total length of the race before beginning training. He (or she) may start with a first mile and add greater distance each week. Build up, step by step!

"When a man is gloomy, everything seems to go wrong; when he is cheerful, everything seems right!"
(Proverbs 15:13)

Smile - show off your charisma. - you can become a better salesperson through smiling frequently. Control your discipline to make say, three calls a day. Start someplace.

Meditate and contemplate...the present and the future. Where do you want to head?

There's a price to be paid for success in any area of life. Whether you are talking about your home, business, physical or mental life. You may want something desperately; but not be willing to do what needs to be done. Will YOU pay the price?

* *

There are three major forms of motivation:

1. Fear: "Do it or suffer the consequences."
2. Reward
3. A change of inner attitude: "I'll do it, because I CHOOSE to do it.

There is always a price to pay for success; but it is never as great as the price you pay for failure.
The Bible says: "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11)
*
# DO IT UNTIL

The Principle of PERSISTENCE.
"I will UNTIL"

One quality possessed by great achievers of the world is persistence. To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time; but we must keep on stepping. Roger Bannister ran 6 hours a day, every day for 8 years before he broke the four-minute mile barrier in 1954.

"People of greatness have climbed the ladder of success, overcoming many obstacles. At the bottom of that ladder sit those tragic souls, who populate the gutters of the world."
- anon

Every person is given situations in life, which either conquer him...
or he conquers them."

Climb up from your circumstances, whatever they may be.
Don't make excuses.
How's this for some famous people persisting in the face of severe disappointments.
George Bernard Shaw had his first 5 novels rejected.
Richard Wagner considered the first 30 years of his life an abject failure. He felt that his first opera was so bad, that he couldn't finish it. With the second, no one would produce it. The third opened and closed the same night. Wagner owed money all over Europe and frequently had to sneak out of town to avoid debtors prisons.

So I'm persisting with my writing, which I believe is what I'm meant to be doing, my "destiny".

The persistent man or woman doesn't accept defeat...but keeps on keeping on. David Schwartz: "Salvage something from every setback."
How long will you keep on?
Ken Taylor self published the Living Bible, which has now sold over 35 million copies ??? and has been translated into more than 100 languages.

How's this for a tale of perseverance...

This man lost his job in 1832.
Was defeated for the legislature.
Failed in business in 1833.
Elected to legislature in 1834.
His sweetheart died in 1835.
Had a nervous breakdown in 1836.
Defeated for Speaker of House in 1838.
Defeated for nomination for Congress in 1843.
Elected to Congress in 1848.
Rejected for land officer in 1849.
Defeated for Senate in 1856.
Defeated for Vice Presidency in 1856.
Defeated for the Senate in 1858.

Then in 1860...

this most courageous man, Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States of America...and became of that countrys greatest Presidents!

(Perhaps a glimmer of hope for me "making it" as an author then!)

So

KEEP ON KEEPING ON
and

BE happy and have great fun along the journey of life.

Craig Lock (Eagle Productions NZ)

"True success is just being the person you really want to be."

"The task ahead of you can always be overcome by the power within
you...and the often seemingly difficult or even "impassible") path
ahead of you is never as steep with the great spirit that lies
within you."

About the author:
Craig's mission is in his own small way, to try to help people live happier, more fulfilling and successful lives.

"Change your world and you help change THE world. Together, one mind, one soul at a time, let's encourage, impact, uplift and perhaps even inspire the world."

THIS PIECE MAY BE FREELY PUBLISHED