6 Ways Writing a Book Can Help Your Business

With self-publishing becoming easier, more and more entrepreneurs are able to reap the rewards of writing about their business. Putting pen to paper – or fingers to keyboard – can instantly give you credibility, position you as an expert in your field and draw attention to your company.

Three entrepreneurs share how writing a book changed their business:

1. Find your focus. Personal organizer Julie Starr Hook, owner of Five Starr Organizing and Design, says writing her book “From Frazzled to Freedom” provided the unexpected benefit of helping her find the focus of her business. “Writing my book forced me to look at my strengths and weaknesses,” she says.

While writing about residential organizing of kitchens, bathrooms and offices came easy to Hook, she discovered she was much less comfortable with digital organizing.

“I recognized while writing this book that I don’t have to specialize in every area,” she says.

2. Give birth to a new business. David Niu, founder of TINYpulse, was a serial entrepreneur who decided to take a break from work to recharge and bought a one-way ticket to New Zealand for himself, his wife and then-10-month-old daughter. While travelling, he decided to interview entrepreneurs and CEOs about their best practices for managing people as he felt this was the area that caused his burnout. He kept a blog of all of the interviews, which later became a book “Careercation.”

At the end of each interview, he asked a question: “What’s one pain point you have when it comes to managing people that if I took away you’d gladly pay for.” The answer was most often “when employees give two weeks’ notice out of the blue.” This became the birth of a new business – TINYpulse – a way for leaders to get a pulse on how happy, frustrated or burnt out their employees are so they can spark dialogue for positive change before the two weeks’ notice letters fly across managers’ desks.

3. Introduce your business to the public. When Lori Matzke, home-staging expert and owner of Center Stage Home, wrote her book “Home Staging: Creating Buyer-Friendly Rooms to Sell Your House” in 2004, the industry was small and unpopular. “When I solicited real estate agents, very few thought they needed the service because they didn’t really understand it,” she says.

The process of writing forced her to explain staging concepts in ways everyone could understand, something which she hadn’t previously done with clients and may have been standing in her way of making a sale. “It made me realize that if I could explain it [to clients in person], the staging concepts I was implementing would make much more sense to my clients and they would be far more apt to take my advice,” she says.

5. Gain clients. Niu’s book has become a central part of TINYpulse’s marketing plan. He frequently sends out the book to prospective clients, highlighting a few passages about individuals who faced similar struggles to those the client has identified. “The book has been a great complement to what we do on a day-to-day basis,” says Niu.

6. Improve your personal credibility. “There’s something magical about saying you’re the author of a book,” says Niu. Attaching the title “author” to his bio has opened opportunities for speaking engagements that have helped him promote his business.

Matzke became a sought-after expert in home staging since writing her book and has made various TV appearances to speak about the topic.

Hook also credits her book with providing an opportunity for media exposure. She now appears as a regular guest on a popular morning show in her hometown, Portland, Ore., and says being an author has caused people to look to her as an expert.

“Not only do I have experience organizing people’s homes but [through writing the book] I’ve done a lot of research on the best ways to organize which helps set me apart from other professional organizers in the area,” she says.

LISA EVANS

Article sourced from http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/236911

Letter to a Young Entrepreneur: 3 Things to Remember

Image credit: Gene Han/Flickr

Sometimes, inspiration comes from unlikely places.

Rainer Maria Rilke is a favorite well-known poet of the early 20th century. One of the great legacies he left behind is a volume entitled Letters to a Young Poetwhich was published posthumously by the young man whom he generously corresponded with for nearly five years.

Letters to A Young Poet is a volume of 10 letters written to a young man named Franz Kappus. Kappus was 19 years old, about to enter the German military, and he wrote Rilke looking for guidance and a critique of some of his poems. Rilke was himself only 27 when the first letter was written. The volume is a virtual owner's manual on what it is (and what is required) to be an artist and a person.

While reading his advice to his young artist friend, it occurred to me that these suggestions apply to young entrepreneurs as well, artists in their own right.

1.  Live in the question.

“Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. ...live in the question.” -- Rilke

When I was starting out as a young entrepreneur, living on my sister’s couch, I had so many unanswered questions. I didn’t know how I was going to continue my athletic career while I was recovering from the injury that took me out of professional football, but I was determined not to give up on my dream to be a pro athlete. I knew a few things for certain -- that I didn’t want to work for anyone else and that I wanted to build a business that would allow me to have the lifestyle and freedom I desired.  

Rather than trying to figure it all out at once or being stunted by “analysis paralysis," I put one foot in front of the other despite the questions and followed my strengths. The things that I built my business on were my passions then -- networking, sports management, and speaking. Things change as we follow those footsteps, so learn to understand it is the journey that counts, not the destination.

We live mostly in the questions anyway, not in the answers, so we need to relax into those questions, set our goals, and enjoy the ride. 

2.  Maintain an attitude of gratitude.

“If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself, tell yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches; for to the creator there is no poverty and no poor indifferent place.” -- Rilke

I was a pain in the ass most of my childhood, always mad at the things I didn’t have. Things shifted drastically in my 20′s when I started putting an emphasis on gratitude. Once that happened, I saw abundance everywhere no matter what my circumstances. 

Focus on the good in your life, not the things you lack. Each day we have the opportunity to learn something new, apologize for our mistakes, and reiterate our commitments.

3.  Let your fear be your compass.

“Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage.” -- Rilke

There are ways to handle situations and instances in your life, but worrying about them never does much. Feel your fear and do it anyway.

My friend and sports psychologist Dr. Jeff Spencer told me this once and it stuck with me.  Elite athletes feel fear just like everyone else, but they channel that fear to fuel their spirit and passion for competition. 

Generally, that thing we are most afraid of is exactly what we need to tackle to take our growth in business and life to the next level.

  

LEWIS HOWES

CONTRIBUTOR

Lifestyle Entrepreneur, Coach, Advisor

Article sourced from - http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/236573

10 Online Tools for Better Attention & Focus

A recent happiness study from Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert found that the more our minds wander, the less happy we are. Summing the research, the New York Times wrote, “Whatever people were doing, whether it was having sex or reading or shopping, they tended to be happier if they focused on the activity instead of thinking about something else.” In short, being mentally “present” and focused on the task at hand really does matter – quite a lot, in fact.

If only finding focus were so simple. With a tidal wave of information coming at us daily, focus is rapidly becoming the scarcest commodity of the 21st century. With this in mind, I’ve rounded up a handful of the best apps for fighting back against the constant distractions of our digital lives.

1. Self-Control – Block out distracting websites for a set amount of time.

If you find yourself slipping into a Twitter sinkhole when you should be updating your business plan, Self-Control may be the app you need. Set it for 4 hours, for instance, and your browser will behave as if it’s offline for that period of time. No amount of browser restarts or computer reboots will stop it. Before you have heart palpitations, know that you can whitelist or blacklist certain sites. So, rather than completely disabling the entire Internet, you can selectively decide which sites are OK, or not OK, to visit during your focus period. For Macs only. PC users can tryFreedom, a similar app.

2. TrackTime – Audit how you’re spending your time on your computer.

This good-looking app tracks everything you do on your computer, spitting back out a sort of “attention audit.” How much time are you spending in Firefox? How many hours a day in your email client? What are listening to on iTunes? If you let TrackTime run in the background, it builds these patterns into a lovely rainbow-colored timeline of your online life. Its most effective use is as a sort of  wake-up call: If your daily timeline shows you shifting between apps and tasks every 2 minutes or less, you know there’s a problem. For Macs only.

3. Concentrate – Maximize focus while shifting between different tasks.

Concentrate is great for shifting between tasks that require different mindsets. I have a variety of recurring tasks that require different tools: 1) Writing, 2) Social Media Management, 3) Event Planning. Concentrate lets me configure a different set of tools for each task. When I activate “Writing,” the app automatically closes my email client and Internet Browser; blocks me from Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube; launches Microsoft Word; and sets my instant messaging status to “away”. Then, when I want to concentrate on “Social Media Management,” I can customize a completely different set of actions to happen relevant to that activity. There’s also a handy “concentration” timer. For Macs only.

4. Notational Velocity – Centralize and sync all of your scattered notes.

If you’re anything like me, one primarily challenge for focusing is getting all your notes in one place. Before Notational Velocity, I would write some notes on paper, some on text files on my desktop, some on my iPhone notes app when on the go. Notational Velocity organizes all of your notes on your desktop in a centralized, searchable location and syncs with Simplenote or WriteRoom on your iPhone. This seems like a little thing, but it really makes life so much easier. (More nerdy detailshere.) For Macs only.

5. FocusBooster – Focus on single tasks for 25 minutes apiece.

This app is based on the principles of the Pomodoro Technique, a time management system that challenges you to focus on a single task for 25 minutes and then give yourself a 5-minute break. Combining the features of a to-do list and a time-management coach, FocusBooster allows you to list out your daily tasks, and then it tracks your time as you work through them. When 25 minutes are up, an alarm sounds and you get a break. It’s an easy way to practice expanding your attention span without going overboard. For Macs and PCs.

6. Think – Limit your attention to a single application at a time.

This is an extremely simple app that’s akin to “Spaces” on a Mac. When activated, Think allows you to bring just one application into the foreground on your computer, while everything else is hidden underneath a nearly opaque backdrop. While you can easily shift between other applications when you need to, it creates a clean space for focusing on the task at hand. (It also works well in tandem with FocusBooster.) For Macs only.

7. FocusWriter – Create a distraction-free environment for writing.

If writing is something that you do on a regular basis, it’s incredibly useful to have an easy way to create a distraction-free setting. FocusWriter re-creates a word processor-like environment, blocking out absolutely everything on your screen except for the words you type on a simple grey background – all menus (date, timer, dock, etc) are tucked away until rollover. Despite its pristine appearance, FocusWriter does have the usual rich text editor features, such as spellcheck and word count. Plus a few bonuses like a daily writing goal (word count or writing time) and very gratifying typewriter sounds for each keystroke. For Macs and PCs.

8. Anti-Social – Block the social websites that are killing your focus.

Anti-Social is like a light version of full-scale Internet-blocker Freedom. Rather than blocking the Internet in its entirety, Anti-Social automatically blocks all of the known timesinks for a set period of time. Sites that are off-limits include Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Digg, Reddit, YouTube, Hulu, Vimeo, and all standard web email programs. It’s not that different from Self-Control (see above), except that it comes pre-equipped with a blacklist (which you can add to, of course). If you can’t handle your Internet abstinence, you can turn Anti-Social off by rebooting your computer.For Macs and PCs.

9. StayFocusd – Curb the time you spend browsing time-wasting sites.

This extension, for users of Google’s Chrome browser, works in the reverse manner to Anti-Social or Self-Control. Rather than setting a period of time for which you CANNOT use the Internet, it allows you to set a period of time to indulge in time-wasting sites. Only want to give yourself 60 minutes a day for Twitter, vanity Googling, and updating your Netflix queue? This is your app. Rather like when you were a kid and only allowed to watch 2 hours of TV a day. For Firefox users,LeechBlock performs a similar function. For Macs and PCs.

10. Time Out – Take regular breaks to keep your focus sharp.

For optimal focus, we need to take regular time-outs to relax and rebuild our energy. Time Out is a super-simple application that runs in the background while you work. At set intervals (say, every 90 minutes), it fades in and gently reminds you to take a 5-10 minute break. You can also use it to remind you to take 1-minute “micro-breaks” to avoid eye strain from staring at your computer like a zombie for hours on end. For Macs only.

Article written by - JOCELYN K. GLEI

Article sourced from - http://99u.com/articles/6969/10-online-tools-for-better-attention-focus

Change Your Thoughts

http://tiny.cc/Miliandpaul

There Is A Purpose in life ......

10 Signs You Were Born to Be an Entrepreneur

Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Here are 10 signs that you were born with the entrepreneurial spirit.

Entrepreneurs come from all different walks of life but almost all of them share similar personality traits. From confidence to curiosity, there are certain attributes that are inherently entrepreneurial--these are ten signs that you were born to be an entrepreneur.

Risk-Taking Behaviors

Starting your own business is a risk in and of itself. That being said, the sort of risk that entrepreneurship entails is just one in a long line of testing the waters for many entrepreneurs. The time old saying "with no risk comes no reward" is one that entrepreneurs tend to take a little bit too literally, but that's what makes them fearless leaders and successful business owners.

Tenacity

Drive and the ability to stick with a task goes a long way when it comes to building and running your own business. A lot of people don't have what it takes to see a business through the tough times that can last for years, but at the end of the day, perseverance is what makes a great entrepreneur.

Confidence

It takes a lot of confidence to be able to break out on your own into uncharted financial waters, and it takes a lot of confidence to be persistent with something that you love, even if it is difficult. But, entrepreneurs tend to be some of the most confident people around, and they have to be in order to see their vision through to the end.

Adaptability

Everybody knows how fickle the economy can be, and it takes an adaptable individual to navigate these changes with grace and persist to make their business a success. Furthermore, as somebody who will frequently encounter unchartered situations and difficult decisions, an entrepreneur is always willing and able to take challenges head on and try find the best possible outcome. You never know what to expect as a business owner, but entrepreneurs are always ready and able to adapt to the challenge.

Curiosity

Curiosity is a trait that most entrepreneurs have in spades, and it can really help them innovate and drive their own success. Most businesses are built upon their owner asking questions of the market and finding problems to solve, and they persist by looking into new strategies and solutions to keep them on the cutting edge.

Restlessness

There is quite a bit of work that goes into running your own business; in fact, there is something to do almost all of the time. An entrepreneur will have no problem with this, as they are always looking to have their hands on what might be the next big thing!

A Focus On The Big Picture

Being able to juggle tasks and wear a million different hats makes a successful entrepreneur, especially at the crucial beginning points in the life of a business. A good entrepreneur can strategize and utilize all parts of a situation with ease.

A Rebellious Streak

It takes a lot of guts to break out on your own, away from the security of working for someone else. This kind of rebellion definitely started early on in life, and you might notice a pattern in your past that follows breaking the mold.

A Desire to Build Things

This doesn't necessarily mean physically building things, but entrepreneurs really love the process of putting things together to create a whole to show. New challenges excite the entrepreneur and being able to build a successful business or product from the ground up is a source of pride for most.

Competitiveness

Entrepreneurs love to show off their competitive side through their successes, and won't give up until they're on top. Just like the world's most successful athletes, entrepreneurs have an undying drive to be the best of the best, and are always finding ways to outdo their competitors.

Every entrepreneur is different, but the most successful ones all share these ten personality traits. If this list sounds like you, then you may be cut from the entrepreneurial stone and maybe someday, you'll be the founder of the next major company!

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGES

 

@MURRAYNEWLANDS

MURRAY NEWLANDS

Murray Newlands is a startup advisor, investor and entrepreneur. He's written for many major publishers such as VentureBeat and Entrepreneur.

Sourced from http://www.inc.com/murray-newlands/10-signs-you-were-born-to-be-an-entrepreneur

Andrew Reynolds Copy This Idea Author in South Africa

This is a very moving film following Andrew Reynolds, an Internet Millionaire Entrepreneur on his trip to to South Africa and what he does to help the local villagers. 

He has also written a fantastic book called Copy This Idea, which you can get a copy of by clicking on "Click Here" below.

The Secret - Law of Attraction

How To Transform Your Dreams Of Wealth Into Reality

Let’s begin with a riddle…

Three birds are sitting on the limb of a tree, and two birds decide to fly away.  How many birds remain?

If you answered “one” then guess again. All three birds remain on the branch because deciding to fly away and actually doing what it takes are two different things. Decisions mean nothing until you follow through by committing with real action.

This distinction is critical to understanding why so few people succeed at building wealth. Everyone wants financial freedom, but very few achieve it. The difference is commitment to the goal – very few people ever leave the security of the branch and do the hard work of flying to freedom.

“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” Vincent T. Lombardi

Deciding you want financial freedom is one thing, but actually doing what is necessary to achieve the goal are two entirely different levels of commitment. Many people will learn the tools and tricks to becoming wealthy, but very few will put them into practice consistently and persistently enough to succeed.

Deciding is never enough because it is merely the warm-up act to real action. Intention without action is like a car without gas. It won’t get you very far. Many people want to become wealthy, but very few reach the goal. The reason is commitment… or lack thereof.

So what about you? Are you committed to achieving financial freedom? Let’s see…

Commitment Bridges The Gap Between Wanting Financial Freedom and Taking Action To Achieve It

There is often a huge gap between the decision to seek wealth and the commitment that leads to constructive action. Successfully bridging that gap is the critical difference between success and failure on the road to wealth.

The way you bridge that gap is simple cause and effect. Commitment is the cause that drives you to take action which produces effects. Commitment motivates you to do the work, acquire the skills, and overcome the inevitable obstacles that lead to success. Commitment motivates you to overcome lethargy and take risks.

All these things are actions, and actions are an effect: the cause is commitment. Without commitment there is no action and without action there are no results. That is the problem with most wealth building systems – they skip the commitment phase – which is the essential learning step that will make or break your success. My wealth building system – Seven Steps To Seven Figures - is different because commitment is where it all begins.

The truth is if you were already committed then you would already be in action building wealth – you would see the effects. You wouldn’t just be thinking about it but would be doing it. The speed at which you grow your wealth directly measures the depth of your commitment. Either you are consistently growing your wealth and financial intelligence or you are not. The results don’t lie.

“The achievement of your goal is assured the moment you commit yourself to it.” Mack R. Douglas

Unfortunately, most wealth building programs set you up for failure by ignoring the importance of commitment. Why… because smart marketers know it doesn’t sell well. Instead, they go for what sells best by pitching you on the latest whiz-bang, how-to techniques – even if that isn’t what will help you.

The unspoken secret in the how-to-make-money seminar business is that nearly all of the manuals, DVDs and CD sets sold end up languishing on bookshelves collecting dust. Action seldom results from the education. That’s because learning a how-to trick is useless when commitment is missing. Commitment is the cause that translates the dream of wealth into real results.

Consider an analogy from the construction industry. A hammer is just a tool and won’t produce results for a carpenter who has a higher commitment to vacation or is busy with other projects. However, when a carpenter is committed to building a house then proper tools like a hammer will translate into results. Notice that commitment is the first priority and the tools come second. The same occurs with wealth building and investment tools.

“It is much easier to repent of sins that we have committed than to repent of those we intend to commit.” Josh Billings

For example, this author attended a real estate seminar where I met many participants with tons of real estate knowledge. They had read mountains of books, attended multiple seminars, and possessed all the knowledge necessary to become successful real estate investors ten times over; however, they didn’t own any real estate. I would even venture to say that many never will own any investment real estate. Why?

They were busy educating, analyzing and pontificating on real estate, but they weren’t busy taking the crucial and necessary actions to actually own investment real estate. They weren’t making offers, analyzing markets and deals, or arranging financing. They wanted it, but they weren’t committed enough to actually do it, and their results proved it.

Returning to our earlier flying example, commitment occurs when you transform the decision to fly into action by leaping into the air from the security of the branch. Once you are in the air then you absolutely must fly to survive, and you will do whatever it takes to make sure you don’t fail. Leaping from the branch into the air causes risk. It is no longer an intellectual exercise, but a real action with real consequences for failure or success. You either fly successfully or you go splat.

If you want to become wealthy then you must leap from the security of the branch. You must fly or go splat. That’s commitment.

How Do You Know When You Are Committed To Building Wealth … Or Merely Decided?

If you are not sure how committed you are to building wealth there is a simple and certain way to know for sure. Simply judge by the results of your life. Judging by results is not always kind, but it’s always fair. Results are like the symptom that shows the disease. They are the clues that display the root cause.

For example, if you live in a fancy house, drive a flashy car leveraged with debt, or carry credit card balances then your results clearly show you are more committed to lifestyle than financial freedom.

If you feel stuck in a job and can’t leave despite entrepreneurial dreams, then you are more committed to security than wealth and growth.

“If we fall, we don’t need self-recrimination or blame or anger – we need a reawakening of our intention and a willingness to recommit…” Sharon Salzberg

If you read books about wealth and attend seminars but your portfolio and investment actions don’t reflect this learning, then you are interested in wealth but you aren’t committed to creating it.

If you procrastinate, make excuses, and get frustrated because you know you should save, invest for the future, and learn more about building wealth but do little to actually move forward, then you have merely decided. You still haven’t committed to becoming wealthy and your results prove it.

In other words, look at the characteristics and results of your life honestly and contrast it with your unsatisfied dreams and desires. Behind your results hides your true commitment – for better or worse. Look honestly and you will see what you are committed to.

My question to you is simply this:

Are you committed to retiring early and wealthy, or have you only made the decision? Are you safely holding onto the security of the branch, or have you taken the leap of faith and committed yourself to flight?

What Does Commitment To Financial Freedom Look Like?

Commitment to wealth is the realization that you will attain financial freedom no matter what. Period. It is not a question of “if”, but rather “how” and “when”.

You gain this clarity of commitment when you reach the point that no alternative to wealth and financial security is acceptable. You aren’t willing to settle for a nice lifestyle by working for the rest of your life, and you aren’t willing to greet shoppers with carts or flip burgers after you retire. You want freedom from financial constraints sooner rather than later, and you are willing to do what is necessary because no other alternative is tolerable.

Commitment has courage of conviction and clear boundaries. There is nothing vague about being committed to achieving financial freedom because it is black and white simplicity. This clarity in thinking is what translates into meaningful action in your life.

“What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight – it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” Dwight D. Eisenhower

Attaining this level of commitment has nothing to do with Herculean self-discipline or amazing grace. Instead, it comes from knowing in your heart what priority financial independence holds in your life, the price you are paying for not having it, and the unacceptability of anything less.

Once you are clear that financial freedom is a priority then it becomes very difficult to live out of congruence with this commitment. You pro-actively get into action because that is what you want to do – not because you should. Your habits change to support financial freedom and you start to see results. Self-discipline isn’t required because these are the things you want to do.

Commitment converts the inevitable obstacles that occur along this journey from brick walls that blocked forward momentum into hurdles that are easily cleared. Your actions are results oriented making each setback a lesson in how to play the game smarter next time.

Your commitment raises your energy level because you’re excited by your goal. You wake up early invigorated by the opportunity to take additional actions that bring you one step closer to your dream. Building wealth is fun now; whereas, it might have been tedious before.

When you are committed to becoming wealthy your actions are consistent and persistent. Every day you prioritize your activities to take you closer to financial freedom. Other goals take a back seat because financial security is now in the driver’s seat.

With commitment you’re motivated to save and invest because that is what you prefer over spending valuable resources on unnecessary lifestyle. Living below your means and allocating resources to build assets doesn’t feel like a sacrifice because you are clear on your goal and how there is no other acceptable alternative. You are excited by positively moving toward attaining it.

“Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.” Peter Drucker

You are now consumed by your dream and think about it regularly because you are committed to making it happen. You choose to read books, attend seminars, and listen to educational audio products about financial and investment issues because that is what interests you. The tools and skills that lead to financial success grow out of your desire to learn: this is a natural effect caused by your commitment.

Additionally, your commitment to financial success creates new friendships and new environments to support your goal. You may hire a mentor, form a mastermind group, or join a professional organization to structure social support and accountability. Each of these environments enhances your commitment and increases your persistence thus increasing your odds of success.

Your commitment produces a force of energy that opens doors and creates possibilities that would not have been there otherwise. You find opportunity where previously there was none.

Your forward progress is powerful, directed, focused and creates results when you are committed. No other alternative is possible because you will correct and adjust until you get what you committed to. Nothing less is acceptable. Becoming wealthy is no longer a question of “if” … but “when”.

That’s commitment.

In Conclusion

I’ve coached clients on achievement and success issues for many, many years. Whenever you are stuck the root cause is nearly always commitment. Whenever there is a gap between what you want and what you have the first place to look is nearly always commitment. It is a huge, big deal that remarkably few success coaches seem to understand. It isn’t sexy and it doesn’t sell well, but it reliably get’s results.

You can’t learn to fly by thinking about flying or watching others fly from the security of a branch, and you can’t become wealthy by standing around the periphery and observing. You must incur the risk of leaving the branch and leaping into the air. It’s that element of risk that forces you to fly no matter what gets in the way because failure becomes an unacceptable alternative. You will correct and adjust until you succeed.

Taking action and incurring risk might not be the easiest path, but it is the only way to get results. You might feel scared the first time you leap from the branch into the air, but every future branch you stand on will feel more secure knowing from experience you’re a capable pilot. And every time you spread those wings to take flight you will become stronger and more skilled until the process becomes second nature. Success begets more success, and it all begins with that first commitment.

“Advice is judged by results, not by intentions.” Cicero

Many dream of wealth and many more want it, but few commit to doing whatever is necessary to create it. The difference is as dramatic as night is to day because one creates success, and the other never will. I’ve watched coaching clients go through the process numerous times and the results are literally like night and day.

If you would like to fly toward financial freedom then the Seven Steps to Seven Figures curriculum is specifically designed to help you. The first step specifically focuses on commitment and is the correct starting point on your journey to financial security helping you get greater results with less effort and discipline.

“Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes… but no plans.” Peter Drucker

You can either fumble through the “how-to” tools and tricks hoping to be one of the fortunate few who eventually get results, or you can follow a step-by-step blueprint that offers a complete solution and fills in the gaps left by others.

Commitment is the first step that everyone who becomes wealthy must complete – but most gurus fail to teach. It is the step that transforms your dreams of wealth from a question of “if” to the certainty of “when”.

When will you take the leap?

Article sourced from - http://financialmentor.com/free-articles/wealth-building/financial-commitment/how-to-transform-your-dreams-of-wealth-into-reality

Dreams can come True

Simon Coulson (Internet Millionaire) plays at Entrepreneurs Bootcamp

Simon Coulson (Internet Millionaire) and his Coldplay tribute band, Coolplay, plays at the O2 Arena for the Entrepreneurs Bootcamp which was hosted by Andrew Reynolds and many more fantastic Entrepreneurs.

Remembering Robin Williams: His 10 Most Inspirational Quotes

Image credit: carrie-nelson | Shutterstock.com

Renowned for his otherworldly improvisational skills and Oscar-winning dramatic performances in films like Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams died yesterday at his home in Tiburon, Calif. from an apparent suicide, police said. He was 63.

While Williams’ passing may have come as a shock to fans, his publicist noted in a statement that “He has been battling severe depression of late.” Williams also notably struggled with drug and alcohol abuse throughout his career, having checked into rehab most recently earlier this year.

Even President Obama expressed his condolences. “He arrived in our lives as an alien -- but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit. He made us laugh. He made us cry,” Obama said in astatement. “He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most -- from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets.”

Related: The 15 Ronald Reagan Quotes Every Business Leader Must Know

In honor of Williams’ considerable impact on entertainment, his extensive charitable work and his incisive social commentary, here are 10 of his greatest quotes:

1. “You're only given one little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it.”

2. “What’s right is what’s left if you do everything else wrong.”

3. "No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change this world." -Dead Poets Society

Related: As Mark Zuckerberg Turns 30, His 10 Best Quotes as CEO

4. “Some are born great. Some achieve greatness. Some get it as a graduation gift.”

5. "[Mentor Jonathan Winters] taught me that the world is open for play, that everything and everybody is mockable in a wonderful way."

6. "You have this idea that you'd better keep working otherwise people will forget. And that was dangerous. And then you realize, no, actually if you take a break people might be more interested in you."

Related: 10 Inspirational Quotes From Literary Legend Maya Angelou

7. “I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel all alone.” -World’s Greatest Dad

8. “If women ran the world we wouldn't have wars, just intense negotiations every 28 days.”

9. “It's a wonderful feeling when your father becomes not a god but a man to you -- when he comes down from the mountain and you see he's this man with weaknesses. And you love him as this whole being, not as a figurehead.”

10. “But only in their dreams can men be truly free. It was always thus and always thus will be.” -Dead Poets Society

Article by 

Geoff Weiss

Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Article sourced from http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/236442