I’m sure you can imagine, there are a lot of people that come to me for advice about the decisions they are making.

Recently, a friend asked me to talk with him over dinner because he was contemplating a major career change. Were not talking about a subtle one either. I won’t tell you exactly to protect my friends identity… Trust me, It was major. Let’s just say one career direction to another totally different one that would require school loans again, years of classes, certifications, internships, etc., etc.

After a long conversation over some excellent Italian food, I realized that many of the factors related to this decision were based in the current [Soon to be the past] job situation. The emotion backing the thinking behind this career move was all there. And why wouldn’t it be…Right? If there weren’t any emotions [negative ones] about the “Current” job, isn’t it possible that my friend wouldn’t have had as much motivation to make such an extreme move?

I decided that there must be a way to get him to focus on the decision without having as much of that decision process based in the past negative emotional state. But how?

Thinking on my feet, [actually, in my seat] I remembered Michael Losier’s worksheet on “Contrasting” from his book “The Law Of Attraction”

If you have the book it’s on page 67. [Ok, this is weird, I actually remembered it was on page 67! Wasn’t sure, so I looked it up and sure enough...] Also you can review my blog entries on A Simple Action Part 1,2, & 3 and other entries on contrasting Here:

A Simple Action Part 1 • A Simple Action Part 2 •  A Simple Action Part 3 • A bit more on contrasting

In Michael’s worksheet he teaches us how to make a split page. Place the things we don’t want on one side first, then using that list contrast them to create a list of what we do want on the other.

Don’t Want                  Want
_____________|_______________
.                   |
.                   |
.                   |

It occurred to me that my friend was looking at his new career in this emotional view from the past.

I explained what I had learned and used from Michael’s Law of attraction worksheet and suggested that he first do the same. But this time with a twist.

What if the very things he didn’t like were going to just re-appear in the new one? I think you’d agree that that is the case in most situations. New spouse? Same issues, New friends? Same problems, New Car? Same flat tires!

Many people will take this beyond the conscious level which I believe is the ultimate solution, but here… We’ll keep it to something you can see on paper and work-out on the conscious level first….

My next question for my friend about the worksheet was; Which things on the list that you “want” have a guarantee attached? In other words, If you are going to create a whole new career. Why not create it from the right side of the list (What you want) without the emotional attachment to the left side (What you don’t want)

THe process is to tap into the natural human nature and list the negative things that are covering up the true things you wanted in the first place. Once the “Don’t want” list is done it’s only then you can contrast and convert the don’t want to the want.

Ok, to help you follow what I’m saying here, here are a few things my friend had he didn’t like:

Don’t Want:
My boss doesn’t listen.
I primarily work inside with no windows.
I work to many hours for not enough pay.
The work load is to heavy and they are giving me more and more to do.

Want:
I want a boss that will listen to my ideas.
I want to primarily work outside with limited office time.
I want to work less hours for better pay.
I’m willing to take on any workload with the proper amount of additional staff to handle the project.

Is there a guarantee, after all the additional school loans, classes, certifications, internships, years of study, etc. that;
His new boss would listen? No.
That he’s work would primarily be outside? Possibly. But that depends on the nature of the new job.
Is there a guarantee for;
Less hours for better pay? not really.
the right amount of staff per workload on a project? again, No.

So, All said and done… The amount of items on his list that would be guaranteed by making this move was drastically less than he thought when he looked at it in the fully emotional “Don’t want” mode. And, by learning what things were possible in this new career decision. he had a bit of a guide as to what to look for as a new career and even what to request when interviewing for that job.

By going from “Don’t want” to “Want” to “What’s guaranteed?” You can see by my friends example there is less dependent on people and more dependent on the type of career itself.

Mainly, it helped him to re-design his plans to do a few things he had been dreaming of doing for years before stepping into a situation that may or may not improve his life. His decision to make this career change is still a positive goal, But now it is more focused on what he truly wants to do and under what conditions he is willing to do it.

Simply yours,
Ron

Thanks to Michael Losier and http://www.lawofattractionbook.com

What comes to your mind when you consider the word discipline? Do you envision the proverbial ruler over the knuckles, or being sent to bed without dinner, or something else?

The standard dictionary provides seven different meanings for the word discipline. We’ll focus on one.

A system of rules of conduct or method of practice:  - “for such a plan to work requires discipline”.

This definition implies that being disciplined requires a plan. For example, my plan is to get up every morning at 7:30, read some good literature for 30 minutes, then I’m out the back into the mountain trails to workout for an hour. Equally, as important as my plan is my personal action or self-discipline.

I hear ya… “Self-discipline is a Simple Action” Cool!

In my opinion, my resolve to get out of bed when the alarm sounds is critical to my plan’s success. As one comedian noted, “How many plans has the snooze button destroyed? As my first decision of the day, I will go back to sleep! Nothing like starting out the day with a little procrastination.”

Procrastination is the antithesis of planned success. For me, the first decisions of the day create a domino effect. If I start well, I end well. Why would I expect anyone to work with me in my business, unless I have the self-discipline to make the small decisions early in the day that forward my plan?

A good leader must have the discipline to work toward his or her vision single-mindedly, as well as to direct his or her actions toward the goal. Action is the mark of a leader. A leader can analyze aspects of their life or business actions as long as they do not get stuck in that mode. To analyze briefly is fine to gather information, track progress, assign duties to staff, etc. But it is always the “doing something” in pursuit of the vision and the inspiring of others to do the same that works.

I invite you to review your life plan or business plan. I invite you to be disciplined with your plan. I encourage you to include in your daily/weekly plan the following four action items:

1. Introduce or discuss your plan with at least two people you trust.
2. Enroll at least two people in a “Mastermind” group who will participate 100%.
3. Focus on your goals.
4. Encourage your mastermind team to keep you accountable to your commitments and be there for the other members of your team to hold them accountable as well!
Yours in Success,

Ron Maurer