One day, many years ago, I was driving from St. Louis to Kansas City.

I had a performance that night. I was tired. My rental car didn’t have cruise control. And I was grumpy.

Plus, my car needed gas.

I checked out the gas prices at the coming exit.

$1.77 per gallon.

“$1.77 a gallon?  Are you freakin’ kidding me?  It was only $1.63 a few exits ago!”

So, I drove a few more exits, waiting for a better price.

Instead, the next exit was $1.87.

So, I did the logical thing.

I got off at that exit, and I drove back to the other exit to get my gas.

I saved exactly $1.20.

Now, I’m not sure exactly WHEN I woke up to the fact that my sense of economy was totally skewed at that moment.  But I did.  After all, as a performer, my first priority needs to be my well-being.  When I drove around trying to save $1.20 for gas, I was ultimately saying three things to the Universe and to my subconscious:

1. My indignant posturing about the price of gas is more important than my well-being.
2. One dollar and twenty cents is more important than arriving 20-minutes earlier at my hotel room for some quiet time.
3. My time and value as a Creative and as a performer are not worth much.

Most of us think that we’ll wait until we “arrive” before we’ll start to honor our value, set boundaries or invest in ourselves.

But, here’s the truth that very few people understand:

It’s the other way around.

You have to decide to honor your value FIRST!  And you do that by honoring your time, your space, and your priorities.  Most of us, however, blow off our valuable time by “majoring in minor things.”  Worrying about the little itty-bitty things – like a dollar and twenty cents!

I have a word for this.

I call it Lack-tions.

Lack-tions are Actions based in Lack Mentality.  They are habits designed to distract us from what’s truly important to us.

If you want to increase your success and productivity levels, start observing how much of your time gets burnt up performing Lack-tions.  ESPECIALLY if you find yourself constantly complaining that you don’t have time to do the things you really want to do. After that, stop wasting time on Lack-tions!

Very soon after my Missouri trip, I started a new habit of filling my gas tank when it was half-empty. (As opposed to waiting til the low-gas light came on.)  I also started playing a game of not even looking at the gas prices and simply choosing whichever gas station looked the “happiest.”  (Yes, I’m serious.)

I didn’t go broke.  In fact, I started to do better and make more m0ney.

What you define as a Lack-tion will change over time.  As you uplevel your life, or your self-care, or your business, you’ll have less tolerance for these habits of lack that appear out of nowhere and try to distract you with their anxieties.   It can be downright fun to let go of them.

These days, I challenge myself to stop a Lack-tion even before the idea for one can occur! And I have since taken the practice a step further: I invest in myself. I invest in my growth. The return on that investment is so much higher than if I had thought only in terms of the number and how much I could save if I held on tight!

So, what happens when you ditch the well-worn practice of Lack-tions and thinking of m0ney ONLY in terms of a number?

Well, you begin to experience TRUE wealth. That’s because you become the CREATOR, someone who defines the path of your cash. And you no longer live as a REACTOR – someone who lets cash tell you how to behave.

So, if true wealth appeals to you, start by asking yourself where you burn up energy with Lack-tions.

Then ask yourself, how can you change this behavior and start taking ACTIONS?

Christine Kane is the Mentor to Women Who are Changing the World. She helps women uplevel their lives, their businesses and their success. Her weekly LiveCreative eZine goes out to over 12,000 subscribers. If you are ready to take your life and your world to the next level, you can sign up for a F.R.E.E. subscription at http://christinekane.com.

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I always tell people that there’s nothing like the entertainment business to teach you how to not take things personally!

Really though, there’s opportunity in EVERY business to get this same lesson. It’s all about learning to live as a creator, and not as a reactor.

In my work, both as a coach and as a coachee, one of the common challenges is about not taking things personally. That’s because moving forward, getting bigger, and living your dreams require that you step out of the petty concerns of your small self. You simply can no longer afford to waste that kind of energy and attention.

So, here are the 9 Immutable Laws of Not Taking Things Personally. Let them guide you to bigger places in your world!

1 – SWSWSWSW.

A well-loved acronym, this stands for “Some will. Some won’t. So what? Someone’s waiting!”

It means that some people will love what you do.

Then there will be those who look at your work, read your poems, review your resume, visit your store – and they’ll shrug and say, “Yea, not so much.”

So what?

Somewhere out there someone is waiting for your gift. And if you have to keep working on your craft, or wait a little while, that’s okay!

2 – Know your “Why.”

This is what entrepreneur Sheri McConnell’s upcoming book is all about.

Your WHY is your deeper motivation. Your WHY is your guideline. Your WHY will help you dismiss the minor petty things that try to hold you back. If you don’t know your WHY, it might be time to get clear.

3 – Remember that people are busy.

People are busy.

Don’t sink into resentment when a single email isn’t answered. It’s not personal. Many times, it’s just that people don’t have time to answer every email. We all have a lot on our plates. It’s not personal if you have to try someone twice or three times! (Revisit #1.)

4 – Email is instant. Use accordingly.

The rapid pace of our culture has removed much of the etiquette that some might normally expect. Most people just “fire off” email without thinking.

If you get an email that hurts or feels personal, take some time to chill out. Then re-read the email in a kind voice. Be careful with the temptation to over-dramatize someone else being in a hurry.

5 – Begin each day with presence.

How you begin your day sets the tone for the day.

Learn to start your day by getting centered with creative and proactive activities. Some possibilities: meditation, yoga, going to the gym, writing down goals and intentions, visioning your day in advance. Start with a strong foundation each day.

6 – Eat enough. Sleep enough.

Being tired or hungry will make you more sensitive or irritable. Don’t try to function well in these draining conditions.

7 – The power of lists.

Are you hoping for the ONE BIG THING that will be your “saving grace?” This is a veritable petri dish for taking things personally!

Examples: Applying for a scholarship to one single program. Submitting your article off to one magazine. Waiting to hear back from one single new client.

There’s a better way. Before you send yourself out into the world – be it resume, grant, publication – make a list of many options. Then, move down the list if someone says no. Find the someone who’s waiting.

8 – Shut up and listen.

When you quietly listen, you may actually see humor in how you can take everything so personally.

When you’re in a conversation with someone else, stop and listen. Really deeply listen. Try practicing this first in everyday conversations that aren’t emotional. This will prepare you for more highly charged situations.

9 – Communicate without Emotion.

Do you use phrases like this?

- “Well, you’re the one who…”

- “You took that all wrong!”

- “You ALWAYS do that!”

- “I’ll NEVER make it!”

Notice that this language is laced with drama and blame.

Language is a very powerful tool. Learn to use words that aren’t about the emotions and pointing fingers.

“I didn’t communicate this well so let me try again.”

“I’m not sure I understand you. Can we discuss this on the phone?”

Learn to take a “Here’s the facts ma’am” approach. Write out your desired outcome for the conversation. Get clear inside yourself, and then talk with the other person.

Please do! Just be sure to include this complete blurb with it:

Christine Kane is the Mentor to Women Who are Changing the World. She helps women uplevel their lives, their businesses and their success. Her weekly LiveCreative eZine goes out to over 12,000 subscribers. If you are ready to take your life and your world to the next level, you can sign up for a F.R.E.E. subscription at http://christinekane.com.

WANT TO SEE HUNDREDS MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?

See Christine’s blog at ChristineKane.com/blog.

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Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States. He served from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Lincoln successfully led the United States through its darkest hour … the American Civil War. In the end, Lincoln was able to preserve the Union and end slavery.

Prior to his election in 1860, as the first U.S. Republican president, Lincoln was a country lawyer, an Illinois state legislator, a member of the United States House of Representatives, and an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate twice.

Concerning slavery, Lincoln was forthright and open in his opposition to the expansion of slavery. This attitude earned him the Republican nomination in 1860; later that year he was elected president.

During his time in office he introduced measures that resulted in the abolition of slavery, including the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the passing of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Just six days after a large-scale surrender of the Confederate forces (under General Robert E. Lee), Lincoln became the first American president to be assassinated.

Lincoln is considered by scholars to be one of the greatest U.S. presidents to ever take office.

7 Must-Read Life Lessons from Abraham Lincoln:

Prepare for Success
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the axe.”

Before you can succeed, you must prepare. When Lincoln was an unknown attorney in the backwoods of Illinois he was preparing for success, when Lincoln became an Illinois State Senator, he was preparing for success, and even when he lost the election for the U.S. senate twice, he was preparing for success. What are you doing in preparation for success? Lincoln said, “I will prepare and some day my chance will come.”
Hustle
“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”
You can’t stroll to a goal, you must hustle; you must move quickly in order to gain the momentum necessary to break free from the gravitational pull of the commonplace. The best things in life come to those who hustle. Are you hustling?
Remember That Greatness is Possible
“That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.”
If someone else can succeed in the business that you’re in, that is proof that you can succeed as well. If someone else can become rich in the state that you’re in, that is proof that you become rich as well. You have all that the greatest of men have had: a mind, and a will. Don’t make excuses, if someone else can do it, so can you… And who knows? You may be able to do it faster and better; never underestimate you abilities.
Become Worthy of a Good Reputation
“Reputation is like fine china, once broken it’s very hard to repair.”
Work to be, the way you want to be perceived. Don’t try to look good, be good. A good name is more valuable than fine gold and “choice” rubies.

Practice becoming honorable.

You can be just as honest, have just as much integrity, walk in just as much humility, and possess just as much discipline as the greatest men who have ever lived.
Make the Years Count
“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
Lincoln didn’t live to a very old age, but the “life in his years” made a profound impact on the world. Are you making your years count? Are you changing the world? You’re capable of it; if you’re able to read and understand these words, then you have the ability to make a profound impact, and that’s not just meaningless rhetoric, it’s a very real reality, but will you grasp it, will you believe it and make it “your” reality.
See the Brighter Side of Things
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
If you look for something to complain about, you will certainly find it! There’s “always” an opportunity to be “offended!” Don’t take these opportunities; they “never” lead to anything positive. Learn to see the roses in life; life is filled with roses, if you’ll take the time to see them.
Constantly Improve
“The way for a young man to rise is to improve himself in every way he can…”
If you improve everyday, imagine the improvements you could make over the course of 20 years. You could become successful “in-just-about” any field in 20 years. You can make a significant impact on the world in 20 years! Remember, slow and steady wins the race; Rome was not built in a day. Work to get a little better everyday, and it time, you will accomplish your dreams.

Thank you for reading and be sure to pass this article along!
Written on 5/24/2010 by Mr. Self Development who is a motivational author that offers a practical guide to success and wealth; support him by visiting his blog at mrselfdevelopment.com or by subscribing to his feed.

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I keep hearing people complain about 2009. “Good riddance!” they shout.

I loved 2009. I loved it as much for its challenges as its successes. In fact, I believe that the tumults we’ve faced as a global community are forcing us all off auto-pilot and into a place of deeper Creativity.

As a creative entrepreneur, I had my share of power-packed lessons this year, and I am excited to continue learning from them! There’s no need to live in fear. As Einstein said: “The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or a hostile universe.”

Here are my 5 favorite lessons of 2009:

1 – Our Growth is Often Proportional to Our Investment.

This lesson is one of the gifts of owning your own business – though it sure doesn’t seem like a gift at first!

The employee mindset goes like this: “Hey, when the company pays for it, I’ll do it.”

These past two years, I’ve invested more in my education and coaching than ever before. Yet again, I had to move past the “employee mindset” and plunk down my own moolah. Not only did I step up and play a bigger game, (When our cash is involved – we gotta show up, right?!) but my income skyrocketed.

2 – Clarity Trumps Practicality.

Last March, I had the idea of putting on a big event later in the year.

I said something like this to my coach: “I just don’t know if this idea is practical, given the economy.”

Sheri gave me that look that coaches give clients when the client has just stepped into the Land of Crappy Thinking. She said, “I don’t care if it’s practical. I care if you’re clear that you want to do it.”

I got clear. I did it. It was great. (Yes, even in this economy!)

Clarity trumps practicality. When someone is clear, and they take action from that place of clarity – then practicality has no choice but to move aside and let manifestation occur.

3 – Systems Are Sizzlin’.

I’ve always been great at “winging it.” I’m creative. I’m intuitive. I take action.

The only problem when you’re good at winging it is that you often live in chaos, and you tend to see everything on your to-do list as urgent. After a while, this leads to burn out.

Systems require that you step back and look at your daily activities with deep reflection. Systems require that you ask: “How does this work? How can we make it more effective?” Systems allow you to step away from your work, take vacations, have weekends – and most blessedly, have lots of free space in your mind for creativity to bloom.

4 – Ignoring your Business and Marketing Doesn’t Make You Humble. (It makes you fail.)

I was a big fan of the statement: “Do what you love, and the money will follow.” It’s a beautiful philosophy. And true on so many levels.

But I used it as a way to ignore the business side of my work. After all, hey, if the money will follow – then I don’t ever have to deal with it, right?

Uh, wrong.

I’ve since learned that avoidance is not a game plan. Neither is hope.

Even though I was busy in my business this year, I experienced a deeper peace than ever before because I understand how run my business and marketing. In the same way that Creativity and Songwriting taught me so much at the beginning of my career – facing my business and being brave enough to market my work has taken that learning to a higher level than I ever imagined.

5 – Serve. Or Be a Servant. The Choice is Yours.

You serve others with your attention, your intention, your health, your clarity, your awareness, and your power.

You serve others by charging what you’re worth, taking care of your health, honoring your time so that you’re not distracted or multi-tasking, by making requests rather than complaining, and by taking full responsibility for your thoughts and actions.

When you’re a servant, however, you’re a slave to the ego, which wants you to believe that serving others means ignoring yourself. After all, the ego would prefer that you remain powerless, fearful, and unaware. That way, it keeps you tethered to the idea of “security.” When you don’t understand power (or service), you need security for survival. The ego is great at security.

The difference may seem subtle. But the power of this lesson has been staggering.

While Christine Kane is best known for her hip and catchy songs, and the down-to-earth wit of her live performances, her fans and students share that they are inspired most by her message of living authentically, passionately and courageously.

Christine’s philosophy is that you are the artist and your life is your work of art. That, she says, is what it means to “Live Creative.” She now shares this message nationally, speaking to groups ranging from the CIA to the American Hospital Association to NICU therapists. Christine’s award-winning blog ranks among the top 10,000 blogs on the internet. She has designed a coaching program to support women in their own empowerment.

If you liked today’s article, you’d love to take your business to the next level in Christine’s Uplevel Your Business Program and Blueprint. Click here to find out more!

Christine has released seven CD’s and an award-winning DVD in her expansive career as a performer and songwriter. Border’s Books & Music named “Rain & Mud & Wild & Green” one of the Top Five Recordings of 2003, the Washington Post called her “a petite powerhouse of a singer.” Her new CD is called Wide Awake. You can order your copy now by clicking here.

Christine Kane
Firepink Inc.
P.O. Box 842
Asheville, NC 28802
For Booking & Customer Service: 800.837.1332
info@christinekane.com

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by Greg Geralds

Personal development is another key component to achieving true life balance. Mortimer Adler, the American philosopher says,

“The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as long as we live.”

By continuing to learn, we can continue to develop as a person, growing into different stages of our lives. Have you ever run into someone that you went to high school with and thought, “They haven’t changed a bit.” Do you want to be that person? The one that is just as they were in high school? Of course you don’t. The only way to keep that from happening is to continue to develop as a person.

Life balance is not a state that you achieve and then can forget about it and do what ever you want. Maintaining life balance means constant growth in all areas of your life. You have to continue to grow and change from the person that were to the person that you are to the person that you will be. If you are not willing to work on your personal development, it will be very difficult for you to grow into a new person.

Here are three things that you can start today that will get you growing into the person that you are going to be.

Read a non-fiction book – It has been said that if you read three books on one subject that you are now an expert in that subject. If you don’t know what to read just go to the bestseller list online and start from the top.

Take a Class – One of the great things about being a grown-up is that we can learn whatever we want! We don’t have to learn something just because someone says we need to know it (um..geometry, Chemistry…those things). We can now take classes at the local art center or business school just for the simple fact of learning something new. Really, we don’t even have to be worried about a grade, we just have to go and learn. Find something you like and learn more about it or, take a glass blowing class, those look like fun.

Join a club – There are clubs and organizations for everything. If you have an interest, check the local paper or look online and I’ll bet you can find a club that you could join. The great thing about clubs is that you get to meet new people and they will have new ideas for you to explore. If you think you know everything that there is to know about a particular subject, you are wrong. Somewhere someone knows something that you don’t. Join a club, meet new people and learn new things.

Personal development can be fun. Sometimes people get caught up thinking they have to learn how the stock market works or how to fill out their taxes in order to grow intellectually. Neither of those things are bad, but growing as a person should be fun. It should be based on who you are and who you want to be. Start growing and you’ll be amazed how much close you will be to achieving life balance.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Gearlds

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Article by Laurie Knight

I was listening to a teleseminar the other day and the gentleman on the phone said, “the best way to be interesting is to be interested”. It really struck a cord with me because isn’t that the truth? Aren’t the most interesting people you know people that are fascinated with something or people that are really into something they are doing? Aren’t these the type of people that are genuinely curious or interested in talking about something more than just themselves. Granted, this can become an obsession if one particular topic is all they discuss, but typically an interested person is indeed interesting. Wouldn’t you agree all those Star Wars obsessed folks are interesting? Star Wars may not be my style, but they are interesting nonetheless. They don’t care what other people think, they are interested in their thing and they are happy and loving it!

Next time you find someone or something fascinating or interesting make a note about what it is that made you have that feeling. Study what you like about that person, thing, event, etc. If it was a person that caught your attention focus on the qualities you like as they are likely qualities you’d like to develop further in yourself. Comparing by itself can be deadly, because it often results in feelings of envy, jealously, and self hatred. Yet with the proper focus on what it is you’re studying and how you’d like to apply certain things in your life, the person you admire can become a role model for you. Allow people and things to inspire you to live life more fully.

Decide today you want to be interesting, therefore get interested in something. Study your environment, not just other people. Think about the things in your life, think about what you do and why you do it, think about what you eat and pay attention while you do it. Spend time wondering and daydreaming to get the juices flowing. Whatever it takes, find things that interest you. Getting into routines and not being interested in the things we take for granted everyday can result in disaster. Even though you see the same thing everyday, start to question it, start to study and appreciate it. Start asking questions. Without trying to impress anyone else, you automatically become interesting because you became interested in the people and things around you and no one even knew what you were up to. The quote below speaks to this perfectly.

“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” – Henry Miller

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laurie_Knight

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Personal growth and development is an individual responsibility. It is a continuous process that ends in death. It is an indisputable fact that maturity does not go along with age. It is amazing that there are many people who don’t show signs of growth and development in their character and conduct.

Let me share with you 12 ingredients for personal growth and development. I hope you will find these ingredients of great help to you. They are as follows:

1. Passion

Personal growth and development is a journey that has to start with the passion within an individual. Every great thing starts with a desire or passion. You must develop a passion within you to grow and develop in the areas of your life.

2. Self-awareness

You start with passion and the second thing that you need to do is to identify areas in your life where you are strong and areas where you are weak.

The process of self-awareness demands you to let people close to you be honest with you in terms of giving you a feedback about your strengths and weaknesses. Be honest with yourself and admit that there are weaknesses in your life that need to be taken care of.

3. Commitment to change

After you have identified areas of strengths and weaknesses, you must commit yourself to changing those weak spots. You must be willing to break those old bad habits you have developed over the years.

It is not an easy thing to go through the process of change. Change is both painful and uncomfortable. It takes commitment for change to take effect in our lives.

4. Vision

Many people are so mistaken that they think it is only companies, businesses, governments, leaders and other organizations that must have vision. You must have a vision for yourself as an individual. Vision will challenge and stretch you. It will enable you to broaden your horizon. You will see beyond where you are now because of it.

Vision will inspire and motivate you to work hard in order to get where you are going. It will undergird you to overcome obstacles until you reach your goal.

Write your vision down, look at it everyday and you will stay inspired and motivated by it.

5. Goal-setting

The process of personal growth and development demands you to set goals for growth. Success in life comes as a result of having clear objectives. Set of goals becomes a map for you to follow so that you can grow and develop.

When you set goals for growth, you need to make your goals clear, simple, measurable and attainable. Follow them through until you achieve them.

6. Willingness to take risks

You are going to take risks if you want to grow and develop. If for example, the goal that you have set needs you to change a career, you must be willing to take a risk of studying something that you have never studied before.

Successful people have taken risks to be where they are today. Leadership guru and author, Steven R. Covey, asserted, “The greatest risk of all is the risk of riskless living.”

7. Personal-organization

Organized people have a sense of purpose and direction. If you want to grow and develop in all areas of your life, you need to be organized. When you are organized, you walk along and do your job with confidence.

When you are organized, you set your priorities, you do your projects one at a time, you plan your day, week, month and your year accordingly. Organized people expect some unexpected interruptions in their lives and they decisively deal with them as they come.

8. Good association

The people closest to you determine your growth and development level. If you keep company of people whose character is flawed and dubious, you will end up being like them. It really matters most who you associate with.

Associate with people who are effective and successful in their personal lives. Surround yourself with people who will add value to your growth and development. Negative association leads to negative growth. Be careful who you associate with.

9. Listening

If you really want to experience growth and development, you need to be a good listener. Give people a space to express themselves. When people share their ideas and their views with you, listen to them. When they advise you concerning a particular issue, listen to them. Don’t undermine people’s advises and suggestions. They will help you in decision making.

10. Willingness to learn

Growth and development is possible when there is a process of continuous learning. Successful people don’t stop acquiring new skills. You will grow and develop when you commit yourself to learning new things and to acquiring more information and knowledge. Knowledge is power; it enables people to make informed decisions.

The process of personal growth and development requires you to put a certain amount of money aside to spend it on good books and good tapes. You must also be willing to spend money on attending informative seminars, workshops and conferences.

Don’t be lazy to further your studies. Enrol for other short courses so that you can acquire new skills. Learning process will surely challenge and stretch you towards growth and development.

11. Hiring a mentor or a coach

Hiring a mentor or a coach who will help you set clear goals, identify your areas of strengths and weaknesses, is of utmost importance in personal growth and development. There are life coaches whose job is to help people who need to succeed in their lives. You can also get someone experienced whom you admire so much to mentor you in your personal growth and development endevour.

You can also get a coach or a mentor in the form of buying and reading his or her books; buying, listening and watching his or her tapes.

12. Execution

The most important factor in personal growth and development is the ability to translate your vision, goals and all that you have learned into action. You must add action to your goals. Execution is what makes things happen. You have to be an action person if you want to grow and develop in your areas of strengths and weaknesses.

Conclusion

Personal growth and development is a journey that demands your energy and commitment. The 12 ingredients that I have provided you with need to be embraced, and nourished and you will live a successful life that will ultimately add value to other people’s lives.

Happy personal growth and development!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerald_Mohlabe

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