Energy and Persistence Conquer All Things. (Benjamin Franklin)

Energy -The capacity for vigorous activity; available power.  The ability and capacity to do something.

Persistence - Persevering.  To continue steadfastly or firmly in some state, purpose, course of action, or the like, esp. in spite of opposition.

Conquer - To overcome.  To gain a victory over.  To master.

Gathering - To bring together or assemble from various places, sources, or people.  To bring together into one group, collection, or place.

Efficiency - Performing or functioning in the best possible manner with the least waste of time and effort.

My Recent Activities

If you notice, I haven’t been posting as often as I usually do.

The reason for this is that I have been thinking.  I’ve been thinking a lot.  I’ve been thinking about the future; what it holds and how best to prepare for it.

I also realize, that at the same time, I’ve been gathering my energies.  In effect, I’ve been bringing together and assembling all the various positive pieces of my life, in preparation for the future.

Given today’s current economic climate, I believe that’s what we should all be doing.

Gathering of Energies

So, what are some of the “items” I’ve been gathering.

Time - I have been analyzing how my time is used and have been eliminating time wasters from my life.  Some of these time wasters have been people; projects I’ve devoted time to; television, etc..

Money - I’ve analyzed the things I spend the most money on and have begun pulling back.  If it’s something you need, then it’s okay to spend money on it.  If it’s something you really don’t need, then let it go.

Work - What is it I truly want to work on?  What projects bring the most passion into my life?  Those are things I’ve been thinking about.

Health - I’ve been exercising daily.  I’ve decided to bring better health into my life by devoting more and energy to it.

People - I’ve been meeting new people; positive ones who I believe will bring value to my life and work.

The Future - I have been devoting several hours daily toward setting new projects into motion; all of which are going to make 2009 a really great year.

In effect, I’ve been gathering my energies, so that I’ll have abundant sources of energy to apply in the future.

I AM POSITIONING MYSELF TO BE READY FOR THE FUTURE.

I am doing this by making myself more efficient.

What Are Some of the Things You’re Doing To Position Yourself For The Future?

I would like to know what you’re doing to prepare for the future.  Please comment below and share your thoughts with us.

Some Recommended Reading

Laws of Positioning #30 - Position Yourself To Be Energetic

Laws of Positioning #79 - Position Yourself To Be Prepared

What Do You Think?

What do you think about these thoughts? Please share your thoughts below.

I just received an INCREDIBLE review for my third book, Achievement IQ Moments and I wanted to post it as soon as possible:

Achievement IQ Moments

50 Extraordinary Stories About People Who Transformed VISION, ATTRACTION, READINESS AND ACTION Into Massive Success

Testimonials

“A gift of optimism in a society where everyone is trying to climb the ladder of success while using anyone in their way as the next wrung.”

Stanley Bronstein’s book appears by its format to be one which is intended to be read in small intervals, at one’s leisure, and yet it is hard to put down this feel-good collection of motivating stories. Not only has he offered for the reader a cornucopia of entertaining stories, but a fusion of inspiration, self-help and philosophy rolled into one. In a literary market flooded with inaccessibly written books on success, Bronstein offers an easy read while providing a product of depth and consequence.

While most people are waiting for opportunity to knock on their door, often when they open it disappointment or futility walk in. Reading these brief reflections from varied subjects reminds the reader that a healthy attitude can overcome many a circumstance.

If Ecclesiastics is correct and there is “nothing new under the sun” and history then repeats itself, then what a better way of smoothing out the rocky terrain of life than by learning from others’ journeys.

The questions of life (highlighted by the “if” being the core of the word itself), have multiple answers — what works for one does not necessarily work for another — the trick, as Stanley Bronstein reveals, is to keep working at it.

Cantor Steven Stoehr
Northbrook Illinois

Are You Willing To Review This Book?

If you are willing to review this book and post a review of it on your website / blogsite, please contact me by:

Clicking Here

Please tell me about your website / blogsite and we can talk about getting a copy out to you.

I really want your opinions. Thank you.

Stanley Bronstein

The Significant Problems One Faces Cannot Be Solved At The Same Level Of Thinking That Person Was At When They Created Them.

Significant - Important.  Of consequence.

Problem - Any question or matter involving doubt, uncertainty or difficulty.

Solve - To find the answer or explanation for.  Clear up.  Explain.  To work out the answer or solution.

Level - Relative position or rank on a scale.

Think - To consider something as a possible action, choice, etc.  To have a thing as the subject of one’s thoughts.

Create - To cause to come into being.

The Beauty Of Thinking In Advance

Thinking in advance gives us the opportunity to have more control over ourselves and the circumstances around us.

As the saying goes, we can’t always control the wind around us, but we can definitely control our sails.

In other words, we can’t always control the circumstances around us, BUT we can control how we react to those circumstances.

Controlling How We React

Thinking in advance will increase the odds that we can avoid bad situations.  Thinking in advance will keep us out of trouble.

An Example

You are going out to a bar.  You know you are going to drink.  You are a high profile figure who’s reputation would be damaged if you get stopped for a DUI (driving under the influence).

If you think in advance, you will either take a taxi or get someone else to drive you.

Notwithstanding, I am amazed at all of the celebrities who fail to do this.  Athletes and celebrities who are making millions of dollars could easily pay someone $100 for the night to drive them.  YET THEY DON’T DO IT.

Instead, they wind up paying their lawyers thousands and thousand of dollars (if not more), to get them out of trouble.

Thinking in advance would have prevented this problem.   They would have been prepared for the problem they were going to face and would have already had a solution.

What’s The Easiest Way To Learn To Think In Advance?

The easiest way to learn to think in advance is to just do it.

Think in advance.

The more you think in advance, you will see that it gets easier and easier.

Some Recommended Reading

Laws of Positioning #79 - Position Yourself To Be Prepared

Laws of Positioning #86 - Position Yourself To Be Secure

What Do You Think?

What do you think about these thoughts? Please share your thoughts below.

Be Careful What You Pretend To Be Because You Are What You Pretend To Be. (Kurt Vonnegut)

Thinking About Our Behaviors

I’ve said it before and I’m going to say it again.  We have to “think” about how we want to behave.

Why is that the case?

Because so much of our behavior comes from our unconscious mind.  We behave a certain way because it’s how we’re predisposed to behave.

Controlling Our Predispositions

The best way to control our “predispositions” is to think in advance.

By thinking in advance (TIA), we are programming our unconscious mind to instinctually respond in a desired manner, as opposed to an undesirable manner.

An Example

For example, I receive probably 10 phone call solicitations daily.  9 out of 10 of these calls are a total waste of my time.  They all start out the same and I can tell, FROM THE VERY FIRST 5 SECONDS OF THE CALL, with 95% accuracy, that the call is going to be a total waste of my time.

As a result of that, I am predisposed to get angry whenever I receive these phone calls (especially when they interrupt my busy business day).

HOWEVER, getting angry at people calling your business is not professional.  It can drive people away, which can be bad, ESPECIALLY if they are in the 5% of phone calls where I “think” they’re going to be wasting my time, but instead it’s a potential client with whom I need to speak.

So What Do I Do?

What I do is simple.  I have “reprogrammed” myself so that I no longer get angry at the beginning of these phone calls.

Instead, I simply listen to the first 15 seconds of the call to confirm whether or not I’m right about it being a time waster.  The moment I’m sure it’s a time waster I simply say, I’m not interested, thank you, have a nice day and then I hang up.

In those rare instances where it turns out to be someone important, I then keep listening, and the best part is that I did not alienate them by getting angry with them at the beginning of the call.

I Changed My Predisposition

In other words, I changed my predisposition.  Where, in the past I was predisposed to getting angry at these time wasters, I have learned to sit back, relax and go with the flow.

I don’t like the fact that I have to deal with these time wasters, but it’s just a necessary part of doing business.

What Do You Think?

What do you think about these thoughts? Please share your thoughts below.

For the past several weeks, our website has been crashing sometimes whenever someone attempts to purchase one of our downloadable books.

THE PROBLEM HAS NOW BEEN SOLVED !!!

If you have previously tried to order any of our products, please feel free to go back and order them now.

There were some coding problems in the E-Commerce software I was using, but fortunately a solution has been found.

If you’ve had any problems, please feel free to use the Contact Form on the site and let me know.  I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.

Thanks and have a great weekend.

Stanley Bronstein

Beginning Is Easy - Continuing Hard. (Japanese Proverb)

Beginning - To commence; start.  To come into existence; arise; originate.  To proceed to perform the first or earliest part of.

Easy - Not hard or difficult.  Requiring no great labor or effort.

Continuing - To go on or keep on, as in some course or action.  To last or endure.

Hard - Difficult or troublesome with respect to an action, situation, person, etc.  Difficult to deal with, manage, control, overcome, or understand.  Involving a great deal of effort, energy, or persistence.

Beginnings and the Laws of Positioning

The Laws of Positioning are all about the possibility of change, that results simply from starting new (and better) behaviors.

See Laws of Positioning #67 - Position Yourself To Be Motivated

See Laws of Positioning #79 - Position Yourself To Be Prepared

See Laws of Positioning #97 - Position Yourself To Be A Visionary

The United States At This Present Moment

Now that the United States has President-Elect Obama, it seems to me that the United States is presently at a “potential” beginning point.  It is DEFINITELY at one of the most interesting points in it’s nearly 250 year history.

The question, is, do they choose to begin something new, OR will old habits (and old thoughts) prevail, in which case this is simply a continuation, not a beginning?

I think it has the POTENTIAL to be a new beginning, BUT I’m a little scared of SOME of the politicians who have remained in power.

Why is that?

More on that tomorrow.

What Do You Think?

What do you think about these thoughts? Please share your thoughts below.

There Is Nothing Wrong With Change, If It’s In The Right Direction. (Winston Churchill)

Change - To make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone. To transform or convert.

Wrong - Not correct in action, judgment, opinion, method, etc..  The opposite of right.

Right - In accordance with what is good, proper, or just.  In conformity with fact, reason, truth, or some standard or principle; correct.  The opposite of wrong.

Direction - A purpose or orientation toward a goal that serves to guide or motivate; focus.

Behavior - Manner of acting or controlling yourself. The aggregate of the responses or reactions or movements made by a person in any given situation.

Behavior and the Laws of Positioning

The Laws of Positioning are all about changing and controlling our behaviors, all in order to improve ourselves and to accomplish our goals and to fulfill our desires.

They are all about analyzing where are at, then deciding where it is we want to be. Once you know where you’re at and where you want to be, all you have to do is behave in a manner that is consistent with the achievement of your goals.

IT REALLY IS THAT SIMPLE.

This Is All About Control

Control - To exercise restraint or direction over; dominate; command.

The word “control” tends to have a lot of negative connotations associated with it.  I’m here to suggest otherwise.

Just because you are controlling something, you’re not necessarily harming it.

Think about it.

Parents exercise “control” over their children all the time.  When the children are young and inexperienced, that can be a good thing, as it keeps their children out of danger and steers them in the right direction.  In effect, this is guidance.

Guidance - Advice or counseling.    Supervised care or assistance.

When their children become older, too much control can be a bad thing, as it prevents their children from learning how to exercise their own self-control.

So, when dealing with others, there needs to be an appropriate balance between guidance and control.

For the rest of this post, we’re going to talk about controlling ourselves (self-control), as opposed to controlling others.

What Is “Self” - Control?

Self - Your own individuality.  A person or thing referred to with respect to complete individuality.

I ask you a question here:

Who is in the best position to “control” / guide you?

The answer is simple.  You are!

I’m going to expand on this more in my next post and we’re going to talk about what we should be using our unconscious mind as a method of “self-control” to accomplish our goals.

What Do You Think?

What do you think about these thoughts? Please share your thoughts below.

Be Careful What You Pretend To Be Because You Are What You Pretend To Be. (Kurt Vonnegut)

Change - To make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone.  To transform or convert.

Unconscious - Not conscious; without awareness, sensation, or cognition. Not perceived at the level of awareness; occurring below the level of conscious thought.

Behavior - Manner of acting or controlling yourself.   The aggregate of the responses or reactions or movements made by a person in any given situation.

Pretend - To make believe.  Simulate.

Change and the Laws of Positioning

The Laws of Positioning are all about change.

They are all about analyzing we are at, then deciding where it is we want to be.  Once you know where you’re at and where you want to be, all you have to do is change your behaviors accordingly.

Making changes in our lives is a key part of the Laws of Positioning,

Take for example the following Laws:

Law #36 - Position Yourself To Be Flexible / Tolerant

It’s hard to be flexible without being open to change.

Law #38 - Position Yourself To Be Forgiving

It’s hard to be forgiving without being open to change.

Law #52 - Position Yourself To Be Imaginative

It’s hard to be imaginative without being open to change.

Law #85 - Position Yourself To Be A Risk Taker

It’s hard to be an intelligent risk taker without being open to change.

Law #94 - Position Yourself To Be Unique

It’s hard to be unique without being open to change.

Are you starting to see my point?

The Power of Our Unconscious / Subconscious Mind

Many people often profess that being actually conscious is the highest level of consciousness. While that might be the case, i often think our unconscious or subconscious MIGHT just be the most powerful level of consciousness.

Here’s the important part.  It doesn’t matter which is more power (our conscious or unconscious mind).

What matters is that we realize BOTH are powerful and we take steps to properly regulate BOTH or conscious and unconscious minds.

My Next Post

I’m going to expand on this more in my next post and we’re going to talk about what we should be using our unconscious mind to accomplish our goals.

What Do You Think?

What do you think about these thoughts? Please share your thoughts below.

Be Careful What You Wish For.  You Just Might Accidentally Get It.

Manifestation - Outward or perceptible indication; materialization. To show or demonstrate plainly; reveal. To be evidence of; prove.

Unconscious - Not conscious; without awareness, sensation, or cognition.  Not perceived at the level of awareness; occurring below the level of conscious thought.

Careful - Cautious in one’s actions.

Wish - To want; desire; long for.

Get - To receive or come to have possession, use, or enjoyment of.

Consciousness and the Laws of Positioning

I feel so strongly about the power of consciousness (or the lack thereof - i.e. unconsciousness), that Law #14 or the 100 Laws of Positioning is based upon it.

Albert Einstein said:  No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.

Assuming we agree with Professor Einstein, then what does that say about problems that were created from our unconsciousness?

What Are The Various Levels Of Consciousness?

Rather than go into a long-winded discussion of this, I’m going to refer you to an excellent Wikipedia article on the subject.

Many people often profess that being actually conscious is the highest level of consciousness.  While that might be the case, I often think our unconscious or subconscious MIGHT just be the most powerful level of consciousness.

Subconscious - Existing or operating in the mind beneath or beyond consciousness:

BUT, here’s a secondary definition; one that I find interesting and scary:

Subconscious - Imperfectly or not wholly conscious.

I don’t have a problem with the “not wholly” part, BUT I HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE “IMPERFECT” PART OF THAT DEFINITION.

What Do I Mean?

I have an inherent belief that LEFT TO OUR OWN NATURAL DEVICES, we will quite often do the thing that is best for us and for those around us.  NOT ALWAYS, BUT OFTEN.

The problem is that we live in a society where we are often taught that we need to CONSTANTLY BE IN CONTROL of what we do and think.

Is That Indeed The Case?  Do We Need To Be In Control Of EVERYTHING We Think?

The answer is yes AND no.

YES, we should always TRY to be in control.

BUT

NO, because if we set things up properly in our conscious mind IN ADVANCE, our unconscious mind will wind up doing the right thing for us, MOST OF THE TIME, even if we’re not 100% in control.

More On This In My Next Post

I’m going to expand on this more in my next post.

What Do You Think?

What do you think about these thoughts? Please share your thoughts below.

Every great work, every great accomplishment, has been brought into manifestation through holding to the vision, and often just before the big achievement, comes apparent failure and discouragement.  (Florence Scovall Shinn)

Manifestation - Outward or perceptible indication; materialization. To show or demonstrate plainly; reveal. To be evidence of; prove.

Great -   Notable; remarkable; exceptionally outstanding.   Important; highly significant or consequential.

Work - Productive or operative activity.

Accomplishment -   Something done admirably or creditably.   An act or instance of carrying into effect; fulfillment.

Holding - To have or keep in the mind; think or believe.

Vision - The act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be.

Apparent - According to appearances, initial evidence, incomplete results, etc.; ostensible rather than actual.

What Manifestation Activity Am I Doing Today?

Well, right now, as we speak, I am actually walking on my treadmill.  Yes, that’s right.  I have setup my treadmill such that I can also work on  my laptop while walking.

What Is My Goal Here?

I am restarting something I started nearly 2 years ago.

Approximately 2 years ago, I started exercising daily, for at least one hour per day on my indoor treadmill at home.

Why Am I “Restarting?”  Why Did I Stop In The First Place?

I stopped because I was “forced” to stop.  The truth is, nearly one year ago, I ruptured my achilles tendon, as the result of exercising too much, with improper footwear.

Since that time, things have healed fairly well (probably about 90% of the way) and I’m feeling much better.  I have also gone out and purchased appropriate footwear and expensive, custom made, orthotics to use with that footwear; all of which are designed to prevent a repeat of the problem I had a year ago.

What Are My Intentions?

This is actually a VERY important question when it comes to manifestation.  The universe wants to know our intentions, as it is going to respond to us accordingly, based upon those intentions.

My intentions are that I am going to be the best person I can be.  I am going to help others, and myself, as much as possible.

I am going to take actions that work toward the maximization of my own potential.

2 Kinds Of Intentions

There are conscious intentions and unconscious intentions.

Conscious - Aware of one’s own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, etc..   Fully aware of or sensitive to something.

Unconscious - Not conscious; without awareness, sensation, or cognition.  Not perceived at the level of awareness; occurring below the level of conscious thought.

How Does The Universe Distinguish Between The Two?

The answer is that it doesn’t.  The universe does not care whether our intentions are conscious or unconscious.  It is going to give us whatever we intended, no matter how we asked for it.

That’s why I ruptured my achilles tendon nearly a year ago.  My body was telling me to slow down and that I was overexercising with improper footwear.  I did not listen (enough).  I knew I had a problem and I actually slowed down my exercise quite a bit, BUT I did not take the necessary corrective / preventative actions that were available to me at the time.

So, unconsciously, I told the universe it was okay to rupture my achilles tendon.

What Else Am I Telling The Universe, Both Consciously and Unconsciously?

That is a really good question; one I’m going to explore in future posts.

What Do You Think?

What do you think about these thoughts? Please share your thoughts below.