LiveTooWin

Aristotle once said “Excellence Is Not an Act…It is A Habit.”

I also read the quote “SUCCESS IS A HABIT” in “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill.

Both quotes each say the same thing! By being PERSISTANT in your ACTIONS, as long as you follow a DEFINATE PLAN you will be SUCCESSFUL!

As you strive for EXCELLENCE, you must have a “refuse to lose” attitude.” You Go over, Go under, Go Around, or Go through, But NEVER, EVER, GIVE UP!
 

Remember, failure does not beat you; it is not until you quit that you are truly beaten!
 

• Ray Kroc, at 51, tried for TWO YEARS and talked to more than ONE HUNDRED people trying to raise the money to start MCDONALDS! 
• WALT DISNEY failed miserably in his FIRST FOUR ATTEMPTS to live his DREAM!
• HENRY FORD went BANKRUPT SEVEN TIMES while trying to launch FORD MOTOR COMPANY!

By reading you not only learn of the great SUCCESSES each of the above icons ACHEIVED, but you get to realize how they overcame such great odds to realize their dream.

Then and only then are you able to realize where the true SUCCESS lies: overcoming the failures!

The true reward is not the end result. It lies in the JOURNEY ITSELF!

The Secret and the Power comes from knowing any obstacle which lies in front of you can be overcome. Each one of the great entrepreneurs experienced their greatest success right after their greatest defeat.

This is why you can never give up your dream! You may have taken your toughest blow, or a step back, yet it could be that you are about to realize your greatest success!

After all David was lead into battle only to be met by the worst defeat he had ever experienced, only to be anointed King 3 days later.

In the end, Success is a Habit. If you consistently do the things to achieve your goals on a daily basis over time you will be successful, as long as you do not quit.

“We need to continue to make good habits a routine. Doing little things the right way leads to success.” Mark Riley.

“The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting goals and achieving them. Even the most tedious chore will become endurable as you parade through each day convinced that every task, no matter how menial or boring, brings you closer to fulfilling your dreams.”

OG Mandino

“Achieve success in any area of life by identifying the optimum strategies and repeating them until they become habits.”

Charles Givens.

“Successful people are simply those with success habits.” Brian Tracy

Drive is something in our inner being which compels us to act. Everyone if we search deep enough is driven by something. It is the motivating force behind our actions. The question you must ask yourself is do you have control over this particular force, or does it have control over you? It is certainly O.K. to be driven by something if it helps to elevate, motivate, and generate oneself to achieve a positive action or outcome.

The opposite may have an adverse reaction, or negative consequences. The “other side of the coin” if you will, is an action, in which you are most likely being led, and do not have control. You are not a willing participant, and this driving force does not elevate, motivate, or generate oneself to achieve a positive action or outcome.

Let’s take a closer look. There are actually hundreds of examples, circumstances, and emotions, which drive your life. Some positive, many negative. I will only discuss the most common ones:

• GUILT
  
• ANGER
  
• FEAR
  
• MATERIALISM
  
• APPROVAL
  

Many people are driven by Guilt. People allow their past to control their future. The pain of the past haunts many people, and often keeps them from ever living productive lives in the future. While people are products of their past, they do not need to be prisoners of it. The past does not dictate the future. The future is yet to be DETERMINED. The secret of letting go of the past is forgiveness.

Many people are driven by Anger. Many people hang onto anger, instead of forgiving the one who hurt them. Anger is a powerful emotion, and can do much damage to one emotionally and physically. Anger, is also a funny thing, when you consider most people who harbor anger for long periods, cannot even remember why they are angry with someone, or even remember the person who made them angry. Basically, you are allowing yourself to give someone so much power and control over ones self. Remember you hold the power. Do not give your control away. You must learn to master ones self, before you can even think about leading others.

One must learn to forgive, no matter how heinous the act. This is not only important for that person, it is more important for you in order to put the past behind you. Only in this way will you truly be able to move forward.

Many people are driven by Fear. Fear is a self imposed limitation. It stems from the 1,500 words per minute which run through your head, telling you you’re not good enough, you can’t do it, why even try. Regardless, fear driven people miss out on life. Fear driven people play it safe, do not take risks, and eventually live in a prison they create from within their mind. The Six Basic Fears, every human being suffers at one time or another is as follows:

• The fear of POVERTY
• The fear of CRITICISM
• The fear of ILL HEALTH
• The fear of LOSS OF LOVE OF SOMEONE
• The fear of OLD AGE
• The fear of DEATH

Many people are driven by Materialism.
The Desire to Achieve Success and the Desire to Achieve Wealth is not under attack by the word materialism. Materialism is when the desire to acquire possessions supersedes everything within ones life. One must always remain humble no matter how wealthy or successful one becomes.

Remember your mind, your soul, your dreams, your ambitions, your intelligence, and love of friends, children, and country. All these priceless possessions are free! All the things which cost money are actually cheap in comparison.

A man can actually be wiped out and create another fortune. He can do this several times. The things you get for free (mentioned above) you can never replace.

The gift of money is about how you use that money to help others, and less about how many possessions you can buy.

Many people are driven by a need for Approval. The need for approval is another fear based self imposed limitation. The need for approval stems from a past encounter. Example: The young adult trying to still earn the approval of unpleasable parents from when he grew up. It is another form of “am I good enough” thoughts inside our head. Allowing opinions of others to control you is no way to live, and again you are given them the power and the control, when you allow their words to have meaning.

Remember this and it will help you. “Words have no meaning. People have meaning. Nothing has any power except the power I give it.”
Next time you will be in control.

How do you protect yourself against negative Influences? To protect yourself from negative influences, whether of you own making or the result of the activities and thoughts of negative people around you, recognize you have the willpower and control to build a wall of immunity against negative influence on your own mind. Deliberately seek the company of positive people who also influence you to THINK AND ACT FOR YOURSELF.

Remember you have ABSOLUTE CONTROL over only one thing, and that is your thoughts. This is one of the most powerful and inspiring of all known facts! If you fail to control your mind, you may be sure you will control nothing else. Mind Control is the result of self-discipline and habit. You either control your mind or it controls you. There is no halfway compromise.

The way to control the mind is to keep it busy with a DEFINATE PURPOSE. This DEFINATE PURPOSE must be backed by a DEFINATE PLAN. Study the records of any individual who achieved noteworthy success, and you will observe they have directed their own mind towards the attainment of definite objectives. Without this control, SUCCESS is not possible. I hope this drives you towards your success!

 I am positive everyone either saw or heard by now the result of the Super Bowl. It was an unbelievable game! The Super Bowl, kept my attention down to the last second. Ultimately, two game winning drives by both quarter backs. It came down to who had the ball last. 

I did not have a dog in this fight. I found myself with reasons to rally behind either team. The Patriots quest for a perfect season. The Giants, coming from a wild card position, with a chance to win it all. I must admit, being a twin, the camera shot of Peyton Manning jumping two feet in the air, when Eli completed the game winning pass, sealed the deal for me. 

I want to talk about the story behind the story. It is about a gentleman who used to go to the Patriots game in the 1960’s. This person first became a fan of the Patriots when they were called the BOSTON PATRIOTS. He would go watch the games at Boston University, Fenway Park, Boston College Alumni Stadium and Harvard Stadium.  

The Team was finally moved to Foxboro in 1971. He soon became an avid fan, and purchased season tickets for his family. He remembers watching the games, sitting on the cold steel bleachers, enduring the open stadium, through the brutal winters, thinking, if I could own and operate this team I could do so many great things! 

I am talking about Robert Kraft, the current Chairman and CEO of the Patriots. His passion for one day becoming the owner of the Patriots had been ignited early in his career. Mr. Kraft never lost sight of this passion to once realize his dream. He searched and studied the area, and soon realized if the Patriots ever decided to build another Stadium, there was only one place with enough land to do so. 

Throughout Mr. Kraft’s professional career, many of his biggest risks have yielded the greatest rewards. This would be true throughout his pursuit of Patriots ownership. In 1985 Mr. Kraft purchased an option for all the land around the old stadium. It was a large investment for an undeveloped parcel of land, but proved to be an IMPORTANT FIRST STEP in a long process toward owning the Patriots. 

In 1988 Mr. Kraft took another step and purchased the stadium out of Bankruptcy court. It was another large investment, to purchase an antiquated stadium, which was eventually demolished. With a building lease through 2001, the acquisition of the old stadium proved to be an invaluable asset towards owning the Patriots. 

In 1994 his opportunity finally came! He got offered a $75 million buyout and the Patriots would move out of New England. He could walk away $50Million dollars richer (his originally investment $25MM) or he could finally realize his life long dream. 

He stated, I only had one chance to realize my life long dream and I did not want to miss it. So he countered with an offer to buy the team for over $130 Million Dollars. Everyone was stunned, including his wife. $50Million Dollar Profit is not a bad return. Especially, when the alternative is bidding on a losing team, with very low tickets sales at the time, and the price you are bidding is much higher than the value of the team. Mr. Kraft did not agree, and when it was all said and done, he bought the team for $172 Million Dollars. 

Mr. Kraft held true to his dream, passion, and, goals. Mr. Kraft stated he knew something that a balance sheet, accountant, or analysts, could not show him on paper. He had watched the Patriots, along with the other loyal fans, in the open stadium in the freezing cold, and he knew the market, but more importantly the community. He felt this was not being accounted for on the Balance sheet. 

Mr. Kraft was correct in his gut instinct. He and his son gave over 75 speeches in 80 days follow the purchase of the patriots. Everyone rallied behind Mr. Kraft and the purchase of the Patriots. The community thanked him for saving the patriots with the biggest one day purchase of tickets ever seen in the history of the patriots. 5,958 Season tickets were purchased by the end of the first day, shattering the single season record of 979. 

The outcry of support gave Mr. Craft the courage, to take on another risky long term project, the construction of Gillette Stadium. Then in 2000, another risky move by Mr. Kraft, foregoing a first round draft pick to a division rival, to acquire the services of Head Coach Bill Belichick. As they say the rest is history. 

MR. Kraft had the forethought, the Desire, and the Persistence to go after his dreams. He bought up property rights, Stadium in Bankruptcy court, and walked away from $50 Million dollars, all to pursue a dream, which he may or may not realize. He started this quest in an open stadium in the freezing cold in 1971, only to finally realize his dream February 26, 1994. Today the Patriots are worth over a Billion dollars more than what Mr. Kraft paid for the Patriots! It pays to have BIG DREAMS! What are you willing to do to achieve your dreams?

Every one of us is capable standing up for something we believe in or taking a stand when it matters most. It takes courage to realize a dream and give meaning to your values. In fact courage is defined as: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. This definition gives value as most people have the courage, and are willing to stand up for someone else. The problem or difficulty lies in most people are not willing to venture, with stand the fear or difficulty when it comes to their owns dreams. 

In analyzing the word courage even more, let’s look at some similar words to describe courage. Some words we may use instead of courage would be: FEARLESSNESS, BOLDNESS, FORTITUDE, SPIRIT, DARING, BRAVERY, INTREPIDITY, and RESOLUTION. These are all good words and hopefully you felt some relationship to several of them, when mentioned.  

Most people when first hearing the word courage, think of some grand vision of strength or feat, they have heard or read about which happens to other people. By looking at the definition of similar words, you can see courage is really the ability to overcome our fears. Another definition might be having the capacity to face danger without being over come by fear. 

I will define some of the words similar to Courage to help you see yourself as having courage. Look for a commonality in the definitions. DARING is defined as being bold in action. FORTITUDE is defined as: Strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage. INTREPIDITY: Characterized by resolute Fearlessness. SPIRIT: Mental disposition characterized by firmness or assertiveness. RESOLUTION is defined as: Firmness of resolve. This should help expand the definition of Courage and help show you courage is not just for heroes. 

I explained earlier, courage is facing and overcoming your fear. Fear comes from one place, our previous programming.  It is the 1500 words per minute bouncing around in your head telling you who your are and who your are not. What you can do and what you are not able to do. Fear is the single element you create in your mind that stops most people from reaching and even taking the first step towards attaining their goals. Fear is the only thing that inhibits us from getting what we want. 

Courage is really facing ourselves. Realizing we are keeping ourselves from becoming the best we can be, and creating the greatest life we can imagine!Be courageous and stand up and go after your dreams. Do not let fear stand in the way of your dreams.You may not always be able to plan to be courageous. However, you can choose it!                    

“ Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage. “

Anais Nin (1903 - 1977), The Diary of Anais Nin, volume 3, 1939-1944

Thanks so much,

Craig

The other night I was discussing an very important issue with a friend. This friend I meet and discuss important topics pertaining to personal goals, maintaining one’s motivation, positive reading material, and life planning.  I help coach him on a frequent basis, with positive results. Since the new year there has been a 180 degree turn in his attitude, due to a personal issue, which I will not discuss. This has led this person to take several steps backward in their progress. I also run into this person around town on occasion, which has given me a chance to observe this person socially.

I have seen why and know exactly what the problem is, and so does this person. My situation is I, even though we are friends, I am committed not to coach on one’s personal life. Upon a chance meeting, on a very bad day for this person, I was asked and faced with this dilemma. I had to make a choice. Strictly business or break my rule. This is what I did.

I empathically listened to this person. This is what they needed most from me, at this time. I did not comment, I nodded in agreement, in order to let them know I was listening and to let them be understood. One of the most important principles in communications I have learned is from the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People“, by Stephen R. Covey, would be this: SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND, THEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD. This principle per MR. Covey is said to be “the key to effective interpersonal communication.”

“Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood”, is very powerful, yet difficult, because most people do not listen with the intent to understand. They listen with the intent to reply. So they are not listening, instead they are thinking the whole time about the response they are getting ready to give.

I lease commercial and agriculture equipment, and Finance Self Storage Facilities and other Commercial Buildings. Until I am able to understand and repeat completely the customer’s wants and needs,  I will never discuss my company or it’s financing options. If I start out talking rate, I have lumped my self with every other Banking Institution out there, and I will be judged by exactly that, my rate. If I let the customer talk about his facility for 20 minutes, I am building rapport, gaining information, likeability, and listening for information on how I can separate my self from the competition.

 Dale Carnegie wrote in his book “How To Win Friends & Influence People“, Be a good listener, encourage others to talk about them selves. Howard Z.  Herzig, states “Talking in terms of the other person’s interests payoffs for both parties.” Mr. Herzig was a leader in the field of employee communications, back in MR. Carnegie’s day.

MR. Disraeli is quoted in Carnegies book as saying ” Talk to people about them selves and they will listen for hours.” Mr. Disraeli was one of the shrewdest men ever to rule the British Empire.

 Regarding my friend, I do not want any mis-understandings, I care a lot for this person, and I do not use the techniques above to fool or mis-guide anyone. First if you are not 100% genuinely interested in the person you are dealing with, and secondly do not unconditionally love the work you are doing and the people you are working with on a daily basis, believe me it shows, and the techniques will not help you, until you find something you are passionate about.

Once my friend described the situation, and I felt confident I understood the situation 100%, I still had to make a decision. Do I cross the line? I told myself I would not cross. I decided to talk about what I knew, which was, I knew this person’s heart, I knew this person showed great leadership skills, I knew this person was a person of vision, this person had goals they wanted to meet, and they had gained a lot momentum over the last six months. Then I also stated I had also seen the momentum being lost lately, goals being put on hold, potential not being realized possibly even being wasted, the spark which I once saw shine so bright, was not there, and we both knew why. I then stated you know the answer, and I am not here to tell you what to do, especially on a personal nature as this, but, I have seen you coach several individuals in similar situations, and all I am going to ask you is: if they were sitting on the other side of the table from you right now, what would your advice be to them?

You see, this individual has done some one on one counseling, as I have helped this person, go over some of their coaching experiences. But once I posed the question in this way, they new the answer. The kicker was when I stated if you were the person on the opposite side of the table looking back at yourself , what would you say to yourself right now? The answer came pouring out, which they had been wrestling with for some time. They knew the answer all along, but did not want to face it.

Isn’t life like that for all of us? Most of us already know the answer to some of life’s hardest questions, but we either ignore it, like we do not hear it, see it, wan’t to recognize it, or hope it will go away or just correct it self. Does it ever work that way? Never. The problem might subside, but it will come out to bite us even harder down the road.

 Fear of change usually keeps us from doing the right thing. Fear keeps us from making the change necessary to grow, to better our lives, to move to the next stage which, if we would let it happen,and accept the change we would find out we were really afraid of nothing.

Remember from our homework from Friday, we no longer have problems in our life. Problems are negative and insurmountable. We do not know if we can over come a problem. If we turn our problems into a “Challenge“, we can over come any “Challenge“. A “Challenge” is something I decide to take on.

In the end listening is a skill everybody needs to master for communication between people, and listening and finding our inner strength, not letting fear stand in our way when we are finally ready for a change.

Thanks so much,

Craig W. Breher

First , I would like to say hello to everyone and thank you for coming to my brand new blog. This is definately a work in progress as you can see. I  envision this blog as a place where everyone can come and read inspirational content, as well as post their own comments,  have infformitive discussion, regarding the topics discussed on a daily basis.

I also want this to be a forum for like-minded people, to have a place to reach out and have the ability to discuss ideas amongst one another. You will be able to use my blog as a way to either reach out for information, such as in a Master mind Group, or seek out your own Master Mind Group with in my Blog.

Either way, this blog is truly for you. It is here for your disposal. Please use it to give opinion, you may state your career, if you feel it is relevant and pertains to the discussion at hand, and helps others understand what you are ultimately trying to acheive. We all want to be succesful. You cannot be succesful with out the help of others. So here is a chance and forum to enroll others.

Thanks so much,

Craig

Thanks for stopping by. If you are one of Craig’s partners or friends you will enjoy this new way to read his messages. If you are new to this site but are interested in developing yourself into a Leader or just want to have your life flow better and create more success then read on.

Over the next few weeks we will be posting all of Craig’s past logs along with his new listings. We hope you enjoy and are benefited by these thoughts and that you come back often to get another jolt from his writings.