What causes "overnight success" ?

Have you ever started a job or gone into a new profession without being trained? Did you go down to your local discount store and order a kit to be a lawyer, a doctor, or an engineer? Of course not - to enter those professions, you need specialized knowledge.

What about when you started a job? Did you just walk in off the street and tell them you knew all there was to know about the job and no training would be necessary? I don't think so. According to most Fortune 500 companies, it takes 6 months of being on the job before the company starts to make any money from an employee. Did you read that closely 6 months?

How to read a mind

How many times have you been burned? That's right. You thought you saw the light at the end of the tunnel, then BAM! Something turned it off. You found yourself holding the bag. Sound familiar?

What would have happened if you had the ability to properly analyze an opportunity before you decide to spend a dime?

Do you really want to get better?

What would you do if you were offered one million dollars to fight the heavyweight champ for one round of boxing? The conditions: you have to stay on your feet for the whole round to earn the money. How long would you last? 10 seconds, 20, 30?

If you are like most people, you would be flat on your back in less than 30 seconds. Remember, running away is not allowed. Many people find themselves beat up from this industry. They are down for the ten-count with no hope of getting up off the mat.

The Law of the Garbage Truck

How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood?

Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant, you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly she/he can get back her/his focus on what's important.

Five years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a taxicab in Indianapolis. Here's what happened:

I hopped in a taxi and we took off for Indianapolis Airport. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And, I mean, he was friendly.

So, I said, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

The Daffodil Principle

Here's a story that I can't remember where I got it but it is a great and vivid example of the "slight edge".  I hope you enjoy it:

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come see the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead. "I'll come next Tuesday," I promised, a little reluctantly, on her third call.

The next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and so I went. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house and hugged and greeted my grandchildren, I said, "Forget the daffodils, the road is invisible in the clouds and fog, and there's nothing in the world that I want to see bad enough to drive another inch!" My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother." "Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading home." "Will you just go with me over to the garage to pick up my car," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this." After several minutes of driving, I had to ask, "Where are we going? This isn't the way to the garage!" We're going to my garage the long way," Carolyn smiled, "By way of the daffodils." "Please turn around," I said. "It's all right, Mother, I promise. You'll never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."

After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand-lettered sign that read, "Daffodil Garden." I got out of the car, took a child's hand, and followed Carolyn down the path. Then, we turned a corner of the path, and I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it down over the mountain peak and slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns - great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, white, lemon yellow, salmon, pink, saffron, and bright yellow. Each different-colored variety was planted as a group so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its' own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.