One Step Closer to Success

Position yourself to be prepared for opportunity by applying these "luck factors".

Table of Contents:

1. Baby Steps
2. Feature Article: ONE STEP CLOSER TO SUCCESS
3. Quotes
4. Recommended Resources: Success
5. Self-Care
6. Final Thoughts

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1. Baby Steps

What does it mean to fail at something? At what point does an
outcome get labeled as failure? If a baseball player strikes out,
has he failed? Is he then a failure? What if we fall short of our
desired outcome? How we answer those questions has a significant
impact on our long-term success.

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2. Feature Article: ONE STEP CLOSER TO SUCCESS

Most people view failure as a final outcome. He fell short. There
was a breakdown in the process. She tried, but didn't succeed.

Some people, however, view the event as merely a part of the
process, a piece of the puzzle. This theory would suggest that
failure is simply a shortfall, evidence of the gap between the
objective and the current reality. If you subscribe to this version,
then you see failure as an opportunity for learning. You are able
to evaluate what went wrong, what didn't work as expected.
Then, you adjust your strategy, and attempt it again.

How many times in our lives have we not so much as attempted
something, because of our fear of failing? Not even the failure
itself, just the fear of it? And then there are the times when we've
tried something once, it didn't work, and we hung it up. We gave
up. We quit.

That reaction is probably the natural human tendency. But there's
plenty of evidence to suggest that success is right around the
corner, right on the other side of the point at which we stopped.

Babe Ruth is one of the greatest baseball players ever. He held
the all time home run record for years, before being passed by
Hank Aaron. But what many don't know is that he also struck
out more times than anyone in history. He failed 1,330 times!
When asked what he did when he got into a batting slump, Ruth
answered "I just keep goin' up there and keep swingin' at 'em. I
know the old law of averages will hold good for me just the same
as it does for everyone else."

Thomas Edison had ten thousand failures before he invented the
incandescent light bulb. Why didn't he stop after one, ten, or nine
thousand? He made up his mind that each failure brought him that
much closer to success. He subscribed to Napolean Hill's theory
that "every adversity brings with it the seed of an equivalent or
greater benefit."

Action cures fear, and persistent action will eventually lead to
success. When you meet with temporary setbacks, and it seems as
though you cannot possibly go further, press on! Keep going, and
you will eventually get there. Don't be deterred by doubt and fear,
for they will fall by the wayside as you continue toward your
objective.

Each failure is like a strike out, and your greatest asset is the
number of strikeouts since your last hit. The greater the number,
the nearer you are to your next hit. The law of averages means
that your next success may come at your next at bat. So take that
action that you were putting off, and move one step closer to
success!

As always, I'd love to hear from you! If you would like to share
your tips for overcoming adversity, please email me.

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3. Quotes

Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.
Robert F. Kennedy

A ship in the harbor is safe. But that's not what ships are built for.

In order for you to profit from your mistakes, you have to get
out and make some.

Many people dream of success. To me, success can only be
achieved through repeated failure and introspection.
Soichiro Honda (founder of Honda Motors)

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
Wayne Gretzky

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

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4. Recommended Resources: Success

The Power of Focus
by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Les Hewitt

This book provides a practical guide for achieving desired results
in the key areas of your life. The action steps at the end of each
chapter make it easy to formulate your plan and then implement
it immediately in your life.
To order book, click here

Dare to Win
by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

Yes, the Chicken Soup guys again! You may as well just put all
their books on your reading list, because they're all great! This
book provides techniques to help you achieve the things you want
in life. Read the book, and begin applying its ideas immediately.
To order book, click here

The Psychology of Achievement
by Brian Tracy

This remarkable program reveals strategies to elevate your
income, put your career on the fast track and accomplish more
than you ever dreamed possible.
To order tape set, click here

The Psyschology of Winning
by Denis Waitley

Denis Waitley has devoted his career to studying and helping top
achievers in sports and business. In this best-selling tape set, you
will learn the qualities that have helped Olympic athletes break
world records, and top executives lead Fortune 500 companies.
To order tape set, click here

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5. Self-Care

Much of our attention to exercise is given to cardiovascular
exercise-running, walking, swimming and bicycling. But strength
exercise also produces many health and fitness benefits. Consider
the following reasons to strength train:

1. Avoid muscle loss. Adults who do not strength train lose between
5 and 7 pounds of muscle every decade, and only strength exercise
maintains muscle mass and strength.

2. Reduce body fat. Basic strength training produces more muscle and
less fat, due to the increase in metabolic rate from such exercise.

3. Increase bone mineral density. Significant increases in bone
mineral density results from progressive resistance exercise. This
is important in reducing the risk of diseases like osteoporosis.

4. Reduce resting blood pressure. Strength training alone has been
shown to reduce resting blood pressure significantly. When
combined with aerobic exercise, the effect is even more dramatic.

5. Reduce lower back pain. Strong low-back muscles are less likely
to be injured than weaker low-back muscles. The fact that 80%
of Americans experience low-back problems is an indication that
we are not getting enough strength exercise.

On a more basic level, proper strength training may help us to look
better, feel better and function better. So make strength training a
regular part of your self-care program!

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6. Final Thoughts

A young man ran for the legislature in Illinois, and was badly swamped.
He next entered business-failed-and spent seventeen years
of his life paying up the debts of a worthless partner.
He was in love with a beautiful young woman to whom he became
engaged-then she died.
Re-entering politics, he ran for Congress, and was badly defeated.
He then tried to get an appointment to the United States Land
Office-but failed.
He became a candidate for the United States Senate-and was
badly defeated.
Two years late he was defeated again.
One failure after another-bad failures-great setbacks; but in the
face of all this, he kept trying and became one of the greatest men
in all history.
Perhaps you've heard of him. His name was Abraham Lincoln.

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Thank you for reading the LifeExcellence Newsletter.
Make it a SUCCESSFUL week!
- Brian Bartes

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