Doing Your Dreams

by Lou Stoops

Many years ago, a man by the name of Napolean Hill made great ripples with his book, "Think and Grow Rich." It was one of the first self-help books I read as a teenager. It is rightly considered a classic today.

Hill had interviewed some of the most successful people of his day and after many years, managed to compile the insights gleaned from those countless hours of conversation into a single volume. While I don't agree with everything Hill taught, I certainly have benefited from a good many of his findings.

One of the most helpful is his six rules for turning desire into success. These simple rules have the potential to revolutionize your life if you will learn them and then take action.

Thomas Edison was one of Napolean Hill's friends and a strong supporter of these six rules which were first written as a guide to making money. Edison felt they were beneficial in every area of life.

Arthur DeMoss and David Enlow, authors of the book, "How To Change Your Life In 12 Weeks", developed a paraphrase of Hill's rules, substituting "goals" for "money". Take a moment and really meditate upon them and note the difference they could make in your life.

Six Rules For Turning Desire Into Success

1. Fix in your mind the specific goal you desire.
2. It is not sufficient merely to say, "I want to reach some general goal." Be definite as to the particular goal.
3. Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the goal you desire. (Remember, there is no such reality as "something for nothing.")
4. Establish a definite date to reach the goal you desire.
5. Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.
6. Write out a clear, concise statement of the goal you intend to reach. Name the time limit for its attainment, state what you intend to give in exchange, and describe clearly the plan through which you intend to accomplish it.
7. Read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once just before retiring at night and once after arising in the morning. As you read, see and feel and believe that you already have attained the goal.

These rules can serve you well if you will act upon them. Don't delay in turning your desires into success. Why spend your life merely dreaming, when you could be doing? Begin now!

More Articles
by Lou Stoops

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• Be PositiveA positive outlook is the best way to travel the achievement road.
• How To Burn Brightly Without Burning OutThe value of laughter to overall well being is becoming clearer to those in the medical community. Laughter has physical and emotional benefits.
• Growing Up Isn't Just for Children
• So You Had A Tough Childhood!While it may be true that some have had a particularly difficult life, it isn't true that that predetermines failure.
• Getting AlongPeople must learn to develop good relationship skills if they intend to be successful in life.
• Life Is An AdventureMost people don't get excited about life being an adventure because it implies uncertainty.
• Conquering FearConquering fear is possible. So why don’t more do it?
• What do you want?Take charge of yourself and embark on your quest.
• Dealing with BlastersOne of the biggest needs in the workplace today is a crash course on civility.
• See the Sunny SideOptimism's secret is that it produces perseverance and perseverance produces achievement. Samuel Johnson was correct when he said, "Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance."
• Sometimes You Gotta LaughAnother interesting finding that's recently been discovered is that children laugh an average of 400 times a day, whereas adults laugh only 15 times a day!
• Being ConnectedEven when we do things poorly, our relationships, if good, determine the degree of enjoyment and satisfaction that we gain.
• Decide To Be Emotionally ResilientLet's face it, in life there will be many wounds others will inflict upon us. If we're to achieve, we must choose an attitude that rises above the intents of others.
• Embrace ExcellencePeople want and expect quality. If a business is to excel, then great care must be taken to insure top quality for the customer.
• You Should Ask For ItNo one every really achieves great things by themselves. They require the help of others.
• Doing Your DreamsIt is not sufficient merely to say, "I want to reach some general goal." Be definite as to the particular goal.
• Goal For ItWhat is it that you'd love to achieve with your life? What do you want to be remembered for?
• Do the Small Things FirstWhen you dream about doing big things, start by doing small things. Don't get discouraged, you'll get where you want to go.
• Learning From FailureFailing is one of the best tutors in career development.
• Making A Habit Work For You"Habit is a cable; we weave a thread of it every day, and at last we cannot break it." Horace Mann
• Overcoming Obstacles While it may be true that some have had a particularly difficult life, it isn't true that that predetermines failure. On the contrary, difficulties, hardships and major obstacles can become contributors to our success.
• Creative SolutionsEach of us possess creative abilities that are often untapped and lay dormant within. We must learn to access our creative abilities, and then, we'll be able to solve what at first seemed unsolvable.
• ListeningAchievers learn to regard every encounter as having merit and they listen attentively to gain understanding.
• Why Not Me?Success and significance come to those who will accept the responsibility for choosing the right attitude.

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