Imagine for a moment that you have just purchased a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle and opened it for the first time. When you look into the box, all you can see is the jumbled chaos of a thousand pieces that need to be sorted out and put into place.

The first step to completing your puzzle is to carefully examine the picture on the front of the box so that you get a clear idea of what it is that you are trying to create.

As you analyse the picture, you'll begin to notice specific areas of detail that have a readily identifiable characteristic. For example, there may be some red flowers in one area of the picture.

Once you have identified a specific focus within your picture, you can then dive into the detail and identify the puzzle pieces that you need to complete the specific area you are focusing on.

When you have identifed the appropriate pieces and completed a small section of the puzzle, you can then return to the picture on the box to identify another area to focus on.

This cycle of 'Reviewing the big picture' and then 'Diving into the detail' is a process that you can apply to many complex goals.

Here's an example to show you how Jigsaw Analysis works in the real world:

After becoming frustrated at her 9 to 5 job, Stephanie decided to investigate the possibility of starting a music studio from home. She sat down with her husband Brian and together they sketched out a picture of what her business could look like when it was finished. Here is what they drew:

This big picture diagram became Stephanie's visual business plan. At the beginning of each week, she would check the picture and decide which area of her business she was going to focus on, then she would dive into the detail and get to work.

Over time, she continued to apply the technique of Jigsaw Analysis and gradually built up a successful music studio and home business.

Today I'd like to encourage you to make use of Jigsaw Analysis to move towards achieving your own goals.

Begin by selecting a goal and draw up a 'Big Picture' diagram of what you are trying to achieve. Then select a specific area of your goal to focus on and dive into the detail to transform a small part of your visual plan into reality.

This cycle of reviewing the big picture and then focusing on a specific area of detail is not only a good way to complete a jigsaw puzzle, but also a great way to accelerate your progress towards achieving your life goals.

Until next time,

Dare to Dream!

Anthony

The easiest way to understand the concept of single-point-focus is to think of your mind as a desktop computer. If you use a computer regularly, you'll know from experience that when you open ten different applications at once, your computer slows down and becomes less responsive.

The same thing happens with your mind. Just as a computer runs applications, your mind runs 'thought processes' and when you try and run multiple thought processes at the same time, your mind becomes less responsive.

For example, when you're sitting at your desk at work, your mind might be running the following thought processes:

1. The report that is due in two days time
2. The argument you had with your husband last night
3. The problems with your father's health
4. Your son's difficulty with making friends at school
5. Renovating the upstairs room

With all of these thought processes running concurrently, your mind slows down and becomes clouded. You'll also find that continually running multiple thought processes also leads to mental and physical fatigue.

So what's the answer?

Well… just as your computer becomes more efficient as you reduce the number of applications you are running, your mind becomes more efficient as you reduce the number of thought processes you are trying to run simultaneously.

This means that one of the best things you can do to increase your productivity is to learn to close down your extra thought processes until you have a single-point-focus.

In the example above, when you're at work, your single-point-focus would become 'The report that is due in two days' and you would close down all the other thought processes that are clouding your mind.

Then when you go home, you can close down the thought process relating to your report and change your single-point-focus to your relationship with your husband.

As you practice having a single-point-focus, you'll find that you gradually eliminate the fog that clouds your mind and your effectiveness and productivity will increase expotentially.

So today I'd like to encourage you to develop the habit of asking the following question:

"What should my single-point-focus be right now?"

As soon as you have an answer to this question, imagine closing down all the other thought processes running in your mind as though you were closing down applications on your computer.

Finally, direct your full and undivided attention on your single-point-focus and watch your productivity soar!

Until next time,

Dare To Dream!

The best way to utilise fear is to view it as a sign post to identify the areas of your life in which you need to acquire more knowledge.

Here's an example to show you what I mean…

Sean was an electrician who was starting out in his own business. He was so busy trying to stay on top of his day-to-day appointments that he somehow never got around to understanding the Tax system properly.

Deep down, he knew that he didn't understand how the tax system worked and this led him to constantly worry that he would receive a letter from the Tax Department demanding money.

Eventually, Sean realised that his fear of the unknown was holding him back from achieving success in his business, so he booked himself in for a weekend Tax workshop which was specifically designed for new business owners.

By the end of the weekend, Sean finally understood how the Tax system worked and had a list of simple processes that he could use to run his business effectively.

What really surprised Sean was the huge boost in confidence that this new knowledge gave him. He was no longer worried about receiving letters from the Tax department because he now knew how the system worked.

This experience taught Sean a valuable lesson that he never forgot:

"With knowledge comes confidence
and with confidence comes success"
- Anthony Fernando

Today I'd like to encourage you to treat your fear as a signpost to identify the areas of your life in which you need to acquire more knowledge.

When you take action and acquire that knowledge, you'll find that not only will your fear disappear, but you'll also receive a huge boost in self confidence as you move closer towards achieving your goal.

Until next time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony

Often we become paralyzed by analyzing the possible outcomes of a decision and in doing so we waste a great deal of time and mental energy. If you have ever agonized over a decision until you were physically and mentally exhausted you will know exactly what I mean.

A useful strategy to help you make decisions is the concept of regret minimalization.

The aim of regret minimalization is to reduce the number of decisions in life that you end up looking back on with regret.

The steps to using regret minimalization are as follows:

1. Project yourself into the future and visualize yourself at the age of 80
2. Imagine that you are looking back on your life
3. Ask yourself which of the options you are trying to decide between will you be more likely to regret missing out on?

Here’s an example to show you how this works:

Liz was a newly graduated teacher who had worked hard at university and had done well in her course. While applying for jobs in her local area, she came across a program that involved teaching in Japan, which was a country she had always wanted to visit.

Three weeks later, Liz received a job offer from a local primary school which was only 5 minutes away from her home. In the same week she also received an offer from the overseas training program.

Liz was faced with the decision to either stay in her familiar surroundings and take up a position at the local school, or to venture into an unknown environment in a foreign country. After much soul searching and advice from family and friends, Liz examined the situation using the regret minimalization strategy.

When she was 80, which option would she be more likely to look back on with regret?

1. Missing out on a position at her local school
2. Missing out on the chance to visit Japan

The regret minimalization strategy helped Liz to make the decision to take the job in Japan. She knew it would not always be easy and that she would be homesick at times but she did not want to look back and regret missing the opportunity to travel and experience another culture.

The next time you’re faced with a decision, I encourage you to use the strategy of regret minimalization as an additional way to examine your options in order to make a considered and well-informed decision.

Until next time,

Dare to Dream!

 Anthony

The secret to becoming a great leader is to understand that most leaders started out by being 'intelligent followers'.

An intelligent follower is someone who:

1. Chooses the right leader to follow

2. Listens and learns from the person they are following

3. Takes actions and applies the things they learn

Once you start using this process you will discover that leadership is a skill like any other and that you can learn to be a great leader.

So today I'd like to encourage you to make the decision to become a leader in your chosen field.

Start by identifying someone in your area who has achieved the position you want to achieve and who conducts themselves with integrity. Next, learn as much as you can by observing and listening to the person you have chosen to follow. If you don't have personal access to them, subscribe to their blog and follow them on Twitter to gain an insight into the way they think.

Finally, the most important step of all is to apply the ideas and strategies that you learn. One of my favourite quotes of all time is this: 

By being an intelligent follower, you will rapidly gain the skills and experience that you need to become a great leader in your own right.

Until next time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony

As you may know, your mind has a conscious component which contains the thoughts you actively think and a subconscious component that regulates the processes that occur automatically such as breathing and blinking.

Here's how the process of Subconscious Incubation works:

Step 1: Fill Your Conscious Mind

The first step to solving problems using Subconscious Incubation is to fill your conscious mind with all the details of the problem you are facing. The way I like to do this is to read, analyze, discuss, brainstorm, mind-map, and draw pictures to examine the problem from every possible angle. The best time to do this is a few hours before you go to bed.

Step 2: Switch Off Your Conscious Mind

Having filled your conscious mind with the details of your problem, the next step is to switch off your conscious mind so that it doesn't get in the way. If you don't switch off your conscious mind you will probably find that you keep thinking about your problem and toss and turn all night.

My favorite way to switch off my conscious mind is to shut down my computer, close the door to my study and go for a walk on the beach. A change of scenery, fresh air and exercise is a great way to relax and switch off your conscious mind. If you don't have a beach nearby, try a park or even a stroll around the block.

As you turn off your conscious mind, the details of your problem pass down into your subconscious mind for processing.

Step 3: Incubate

When you come home from your walk, have a warm glass of milk or tea and go straight to bed. Don't watch television or do anything else to reactivate your conscious mind.

Step 4: Revisit The Problem

When you first become conscious in the morning, don't rush to get out of bed. Instead, take a moment to keep your eyes closed and revisit the problem you are trying to solve. Often in that magical place between sleep and consciousness you will find a sense of clarity and discover new insights into solving your problem.

So there you have it!

The process of Subconscious Incubation takes a little bit of practice but it is a very effective way to confront and overcome the problems that stand between you and achieving your most important life goals.

Until next time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony

Here are my top ten tips for building your self confidence:

1. Visualise Yourself As The Person You Want To Be

Each morning spend a few minutes visualising yourself as the person you want to be. Think about the way you dress, the way you carry yourself and the way you interact with other people. Seeing yourself as the person you want to become is the first step towards building self confidence.

2. Self Confidence Statement

After visualising yourself as the person you want to be, read the following statement out loud:

"I know I have the ability to achieve my major goal in life. Therefore today,
I demand of myself persistent and continuous action towards achieving my goal"

Reading this statement out loud is a great way to start your day in a confident state of mind.

3. Dress Well

One of the most effective ways to instantly improve your level of self confidence is to dress well and to make the decision to always be well groomed. This does not mean you have to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe. Instead, just focus on gradually building up a small collection of good quality clothes. Also remember that simple accessories such as a tie clip or necklace can make a big difference to the way you look and feel.

4. Positive Posture

Another powerful way to build your sense of self confidence is to stand up straight and lose the slouch that many of us have acquired over the years. While you may be able to make a change to your posture by simply becoming aware of it, the best way to make a long lasting change to your posture is to practice yoga or pilates.

5. Move With Purpose

A simple but effective tip for increasing your levels of self confidence is to always move with a sense of purpose. In his book 'The Magic of Thinking Big', David Schwartz recommends walking 25% faster than normal. Having a spring in your step lets people know that you have important things to do and actually makes you feel more confident as you go about your daily business.

6. Become A Participant

Have you ever noticed that in most meetings or groups, people immediately head towards the back of the room so that they can remain as inconspicuous as possible? A great way to increase your visibility and sense of self confidence is to make the decision to always sit towards the front of the room and be a participant. When you have something to say - don't be afraid to say it.

7. Connect With Confidence

Another way to quickly improve your self confidence is to practice making a strong first impression. When you meet someone face-to-face, look them directly in the eye, smile broadly, shake hands firmly and say, "Hi Jim, nice to meet you".

Similarly, you can sound more confident on the phone by answering, "Good morning Carol Jones speaking" instead of simply saying "Hello…"

8. Build Your Success File

Occasionally your self confidence will take a hit when something doesn't work out the way you hoped. One of the best ways to repair your self confidence in this situation is to keep a folder outlining your past achievements and successes. You should also include any positive feedback that you've received from others.

As you review your success file and fill your mind with positive comments, your doubts and insecurities will quickly disappear and your self confidence will be restored.

9. Preparation

The BIG secret to being self confident that people rarely talk about is - preparation. The more you prepare and practice for an event, the more self confident you will become.

If you are worried about an upcoming event, use your apprehension as a stimulus to take action and practice, practice, practice. The simple but powerful truth is that self confidence grows through repetition and experience.

10. Toastmasters

My final tip for developing self confidence is to join a Toastmasters group.

Toastmasters is a non-profit organisation that helps people from all walks of life to develop their public speaking and leadership skills. In my experience Toastmasters offers a safe and relaxed environment to step out of your comfort zone and develop the invaluable skills of being able to think on your feet and speak in public.

So there you have it!

If you implement some or all of these 10 techniques you'll gradually develop a greater sense of self confidence which in turn will help you to pursue and achieve your most important life goals.

Until next time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony

When you find a role model that you admire, it can be very tempting to want to be 'just like them'. This can lead to the mistake of thinking that in order to be successful you need to be more like your mentor and less like yourself.

The reality however is that pretending to be someone you are not never leads to long term success.

One of the most valuable success lessons I've ever learned is this:

Learn from others but be yourself

Here's an example to show you what I mean:

Alison was studying to be a teacher. As part of her training she visited a school where she was assigned a mentor who was an experienced teacher named Mr. Holden.

The first thing Alison noticed when she sat in on Mr. Holden's class was that he started each lesson with a brain teaser which was a great strategy for gaining the student's attention. Alison was also very impressed with Mr. Holden's teaching style. He was naturally entertaining and constantly had his students laughing during class.

When Alison started teaching she used Mr. Holden's strategy of beginning each class with a brain teaser and found it to be very effective. However, when she tried to be funny and entertaining she did not get the response she was hoping for.

Over time, Alison came to realise that she should not try to be 'another Mr. Holden'. She discovered that the best way to improve her teaching was to incorporate the tips, strategies and techniques from her mentors in a way that suited her own personality.

Whatever goal you are currently pursuing, it is very important to realise that the best way to obtain success is to learn from others but always remain true to yourself. Instead of trying to become someone you are not, focus on being more of who you really are.

When you combine the tips and strategies of your role models with your own unique personality you will have a powerful recipe for achieving success. So always remember to learn from others but be yourself.

Until next time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony

So how can a simple pot plant help you achieve success?

One of the fundamental laws of nature is this:

Anything that does not receive regular
attention will deteriorate over time.

If you think about this for a moment, you'll see that this law holds true not only for a pot plant but also for every area of your life:

• If you do not pay regular attention to your health, it will deteriorate over time.
• If you do not pay regular attention to your relationships, they will deteriorate over time.
• If you do not pay regular attention to your finances, they will deteriorate over time

Having a pot plant on your desk is a great visual reminder of this fundamental law because if you don't water it regularly it too will deteriorate.

As you water your plant every few days, use this action as a trigger to remind yourself to review your health, relationships and finances on a regular basis.

A good way to reinforce this idea is to place something like the following on the base of your pot.

Sometimes as you water your pot plant you might realise that you haven't done any exercise for a few weeks.

At other times your may become aware that its been two months since you and your wife/husband have had some quiet time together.

Alternatively, your pot plant may also remind you that you need to review your finances.

As you can see, a simple pot plant sitting on your desk or kitchen table can be a great reminder to pay regular attention to the things that are most important to you.

Until next time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony

Here is a picture to show you what I mean:

This simple picture illustrates a number of very important points about the relationship between failure and success:

1. There is only one road to Success City

2. The road to Success City passes through Failureville

3. One of the main reasons people never reach Success City is because they are so afraid of driving through Failureville that they never begin their journey.

So what does this mean in the real world?

It means that failure is not the opposite of success as many people assume. On the contrary, failure is an important part of achieving success. In fact, it is usually through the process of trying and failing that we learn the lessons we need in order to ultimately achieve our goals in life.

My favourite quote regarding the relationship between failure and success comes from the legendary basketball player Michael Jordan:

When you understand the fact that success lies on the other side of failure you will be much better prepared for the journey that leads to achieving your most important life goals.

Until next time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony

If for some reason you cannot see the video above, please CLICK HERE to watch the original clip on YouTube.

Each time I was faced with this meal, I would enjoy my sausages and mash potato and then toy with my brocolli in the hope that it would eventually get cold and I wouldn't have to finish it. This approach transformed dinner into a long and drawn out process.

Then one day, my best friend whose name was Sean Sullivan came over to my house for the day to play. When it came time for dinner, Mum made us sausages, mash potato and… brocolli.

As I stated eating my sausages and mash potato, my friend Sean did something that completely amazed me:

- He ate all his brocolli first without touching his sausages or mash potato.

I couldn't believe it!

I thought he was crazy until I got to the point where I was toying with my brocolli and realised that he was now enjoying his sausages and mash potato.

On that day I learnt a lesson that I have never forgotten and that I still use every day. The lesson was this:

When faced with a list of things to do, always do the hardest task first.

Here's what this means in the real world:

Each morning when you check your daily To Do list, you will notice that some of the items on your list will be easy to do but will only have a relatively small impact on achieving your goals. Other items which are usually more difficult to do will have a much bigger impact on moving you forward.

One of the most effective ways to increase your overall productivity is to start your day by working on the difficult tasks that will make a real difference to your progress.

To do this, you must resist the temptation to "Just do the easy things first " because often this means that you keep putting off the high impact tasks that will really make a difference to achieving your goals.

Another advantage of 'eating your brocolli first' is that when you are feeling less productive at the end of the day, you are often still able to complete the easy tasks on your To Do list.

So today, I'd like to encourage you to prioritise your To Do list based on the impact each item will have on achieving your goals and follow the example of my 9 year old friend and learn to eat your brocolli first.

Until next time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony

If you are dealing with a painful situation at the moment, I'd like to share with you a quote that has helped me get through some of the most painful times of my life. The quote is this:

In 2002 I was involved in an accident in a karate dojo and faced several months of rehabilitation. During this time I printed out this quote and stuck it next to my bed. I read it every morning and every night and I believe it played a big part in my recovery.

When we are faced with pain we each have a choice to make. We can quit and accept our circumstances, or we can make the decision to fight with all the resources we have at our disposal.

Today I'd like to encourage you to draw on the support of those who love you and adopt the view that your pain is temporary.

When you adopt this perspective, you will start to turn your focus towards the future and begin to look beyond your current pain. I hope this quote will help you as much as it has helped me.

Until next time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony

As we move forward, many will begin to ask - "How can we transform this sense of hope into real and long lasting change?"

I pondered this question in the early hours of the morning and gradually formulated the following picture. I sincerely believe that this diagram is as applicable to individuals attempting to transform their personal circumstances, as it is to nations attempting to transform their destiny:

As you can see, this Cycle of Change begins with elevated hopes. When we have hope in our hearts for a period of time, we begin to believe in the possibility of a brighter future. This sense of belief is the fuel that then drives us to take action.

Through repeated and sometimes difficult action, we gradually achieve visible results. Over time, it is these results that lead to long lasting change. The true magic of this cycle is that when we see and experience tangible change, our hopes are elevated to a higher level and the cycle begins anew.

Today I'd like to encourage you to nurture your feelings of hope and be willing to believe in a brighter future for yourself and your family. I encourage you to use your sense of belief to propel yourself into action. Start today and begin to accumulate the results that will lead to real and lasting change in your life.

When you truly understand the Cycle of Change there really is no limit to what you can achieve.

Until next time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony

Around her were gathered a collection of bags. The first suitcase contained four years of painful memories from her relationship with her now ex-partner Peter. The second suitcase contained the bitter arguments she had last month with her sister regarding the best way to care for their elderly parents. There was also a backpack filled with feelings of betrayal which she'd received from her workmate Sarah during the last round of promotions at work.

In the distance Melinda heard the sound of a foghorn. She looked up to see the bow of a beautiful old schooner slicing gracefully through the morning mist. From the mast of the boat fluttered a flag bearing the insignia '2009'. The ship approached quickly and before long was docked alongside the pier. A ramp was lowered to allow access to the deck and Melinda was surprised to find that she was the only passenger boarding.

With a heavy sigh, she picked up her bags and struggled towards the concourse. At the top of the ramp stood a white haired old man wearing a captain's hat. He watched as Melinda struggled up the gangway but did not offer to help which Melinda found a little odd. As she approached the ship's deck, the weather-worn lines of the captain's face dissolved into a broad smile and he asked, "Do you really want to bring all that aboard with you ma'am?"

Melinda stopped in her tracks. She looked down at the bags she was carrying and realised that there was really no good reason for her to carry the negative thoughts and feelings from last year onto the boat.

She looked up at the ship's captain who nodded his head slightly.

Melinda turned back to face pier 20-08 and in a moment of clarity, made an instant decision.

She let go of the two suitcases and kicked them down the concourse. The suitcases rolled down the ramp and clattered noisily back onto the pier. Next Melinda removed her backpack and flung it as high as she could. The bag arched upward, reached the top of its trajectory and then came crashing back down onto the pier.

With her bag and suitcases gone, Melinda suddenly felt light and free. She hadn't realised how big a burden her pent up negativity had been. Melinda turned back to the ship's captain who gave her a wink and said, "Welcome aboard ma'am and Happy New Year".

—

The New Year is a wonderful time for letting go of negative thoughts and feelings associated with past events. As 2009 begins I'd like to encourage you to check the mental and emotional bags that you are carrying into the New Year.

Are there any negative thoughts or feelings that you should kick down the concourse and leave on the pier of 2008?

If like Melinda you are able to let go of these emotional burdens, you will find that the New Year brings you a real chance to make a fresh start and a new beginning.

Until next time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony

On the corner of the street a small group of men and women were singing carols and raising money for the homeless. Sally and her mom stopped to listen and then, much to Sally's delight, her Mom handed her a silver coin to drop into the group's bucket.

As Sally made her small donation, one of the singers smiled and said, "Thank-you young lady and you have a wonderful Christmas!" Sally beamed up at the old man and stepped back to join her mother.

Together they moved on towards the bright lights of the stores. Sally could hardly contain her excitement as she skipped along and blew plumes of mist high into the cold air. They passed through the big heavy doors and Sally's eyes lit up in amazement. The scene before her was like looking into the kingdom of a fairy princess.

There was a line of beautiful angels holding their trumpets up high and a huge Christmas tree glowed with a million coloured lights. Sally imagined that each light on the tree was the home of a Christmas fairy and she smiled to herself as she imagined the adventures the angels and fairies would have when the store closed.

For Sally, Christmas was a special and magical time of the year.

—

Bridget pushed her way through the maddening throng of Christmas shoppers and cursed the cold weather as she tugged at her ineffective scarf. On the corner of the street a group were singing carols. "I'm really sick of all these people asking for donations" thought Bridget as she side stepped the group and pushed past a little girl in a red jacket.

Bridget entered a nearby store and walked past a line of trumpet bearing angels and a Christmas tree without a second glance. After all, Christmas was just a commercial exercise organised to boost end of year company profits. Bridget purchased token gifts for the people she was obliged to see over Christmas and left the store to fight her way back to her car.

For Bridget, Christmas was an inconvenient and expensive intrusion into her life.

—

Every year, people like little Sally celebrate the joy of Christmas and share in the magic of the season that is evident if you choose to look for it.

On the other hand, every year, people like Bridget go through the obligatory motions of Christmas and chose to focus on the angst and stress inherent in what is sometimes called the 'silly season'.

The most important thing to take away from the story of Sally and Bridget is that each and every year, your Christmas reality is what you make it. It can be a delightful respite or an annoying distraction. The choice is yours.

I would like to encourage you today to choose to look for the good in those around you this Christmas. I wish you all the very best for the holiday season and I look forward to helping you achieve your most important life goals in 2009.

Until Next Year,

Dare to Dream!

Anthony

I became a huge fan of biographies when I realised that they offer a way to access a lifetime of experiences and lessons in just a few short hours of reading.

A great way to read a biography is to keep a notebook by your side to jot down the following:

(1) Success Factors - Every time you read a biography you'll discover some nuggets of wisdom. For example, here is a quote from Fred Astaire's autobiography that struck a chord with me:

"What counts more than luck is determination and perseverance.
If the talent is there, it will come through. Don't be too impatient.
Stick at it. That's my advice." - Fred Astaire

(2) Mistakes Made - Another valuable thing about biographies is that you not only learn from what people did right, but you also learn a great deal from reading about the mistakes people made during their lives. For example, Beatrix Potter did not receive regular accounts from her publishers and in 1917 she discovered that one of them had been siphoning off money to fund a fishing business in the Channel Islands. The lesson I took away from this was that you should never blindly trust anyone with your finances.

At the end of reading a biography in this way you'll be left with a few pages of notes that distill the essence of each person's success.

Another important aspect of reading biographies is that you'll discover that even the most successful people have the same insecurities as the rest of us. For example, although Sir Edmund Hillary had the courage to conquer Mount Everest, he did not have the courage to propose to his wife! In the end he asked his prospective mother-in-law to propose for him. In his biography he writes, "What a coward I was, but I was mighty pleased with the result."

Reading biographies is a great way to uncover the real people that exist behind the legends. In every case you'll discover a story of a normal person just like you or me who pursued their dream and persevered though difficulties in order to achieve success. Their inspirational stories will also give you the additional confidence you need to go after your own goals and dreams.

If you're not sure where to start, here are some of the biographies I've enjoyed recently:

• 'Mao's Last Dancer' - Li Cunxin
• 'It's not about the bike' - Lance Armstrong
• 'Ian Thorpe: The Biography' - Greg Hunter
• 'Steps in Time' - Fred Astaire
• 'Beatrix Potter' - Linda Lear.

As you can see, this selection reflects my interests in dancing, art, writing and sport so my main suggestion is that you identify the people who you already admire and read their biographies to discover the characteristics that made them successful.

Biographies of the world's most successful people are a great way to develop the mindset you need to achieve success. They are also an incredibly interesting way to learn how other people have approached this amazing journey we call life.

Until next time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony

Both Seb and Matthias were extremely excited by this opportunity and immediately started preparing for the seven day journey.

Seb set out on a bright Monday morning with his chisels and hammers packed in the back of his horse-drawn cart. At the end of his first day of traveling, he made camp in a clearing by the side of the road. After a simple meal, Seb noticed a large rock on the edge of the clearing and decided to get in some practice for the upcoming sculpting competition.

He took out his tools and began to chisel away at the rock. Several hours later, Seb stood back to look at his sculpture. It was a statue of the Princess Rebecca, but while he was reasonably happy with his attempt, Seb realized that the statue's hands were too big. He made a mental note to be careful of this in the future and went to sleep.

The next morning, Seb continued on his way leaving his statue of Princess Rebecca by the side of the clearing. At the end of his second day, Seb found another rock to practice on and created another sculpture of the Princess. This time he got her hands right but made her legs too short. He made a mental note on how to improve next time and moved on.

Seb continued this pattern throughout his journey. Each night he found a rock to practice on, created a sculpture of Princess Rebecca, made note on how he could improve and then moved on the following morning leaving the sculpture where he created it.

By the time Seb reached the Royal Gardens he had made seven practice sculptures that were each a little bit better than the one before. On the day of the competition, Seb created his best sculpture ever and to his delight, he was awarded the coveted 'Golden Hammer' award which was presented by Princess Rebecca herself.

Now you may be wondering what happened to the other sculptor, Matthias, so let me tell you his side of the story…

Matthias also set out on the seven day journey to the Royal Gardens to compete in the sculpting competition. Like Seb, Matthias made camp on the first night and found a large rock to practice on. He too created a statue of the Princess Rebecca but found that he made her feet too big. Matthias was angry at himself for making this mistake and the next morning he heaved the statue onto the back of his cart so that he could study his mistake later.

At the end of his second day of traveling, Matthias found another rock to practice on and created another statue. This time he forgot to include the princesses head dress and he became furious at his mistake. The next morning, he heaved the statue onto the back of his cart and continued slowly on his journey.

Each night Matthias repeated this same pattern. He created a statue, became angry with himself when he made a mistake and then loaded the statue onto his cart before moving on.

On the seventh day, Matthias woke up early and prepared for the final leg of his journey, but when he prompted his horse to get underway, the poor animal strained at his harness but could not move an inch. Matthias jumped down from his seat and went to the back of his cart.

There he found all seven practice statues of the Princess Rebecca which were weighing the cart down and making it impossible to move. Matthias complained bitterly as he looked over the statues in detail - too big, too short, too tall…the list of mistakes went on and on. The unhappy sculptor sat down on a tree stump and continued to stare at his statues for hours, and as a result, he never made it to the Royal Gardens to compete in the competition.

This simple story illustrates an important lesson that can often be the difference between success and failure. The statues in the story represent the mistakes that we all make in life. The difference between Seb and Matthias was the way in which they responded to their mistakes.

When Seb made a practice statue he made a mental note of any problems and then he left his mistake where he made it and continued on his journey. As a result, he gradually developed his skills and eventually achieved his ultimate objective.

Matthias on the other hand approached his mistakes in a different fashion. Each time he made a statue, he loaded it onto his cart and took it with him. Each day his cart became heavier and heavier until eventually it would not move at all. Instead of leaving his mistakes where he made them, Matthias carried the weight of his mistakes with him and the weight of these past mistakes eventually prevented him from reaching his real objective.

On your journey to success, understand that you too will make mistakes. Some small, some big. Each time you make a mistake you have a choice. You can either learn from your mistake and move on like Seb, or you can carry your mistake with you like Matthias.

The danger in harboring regret and continually analyzing your past mistakes is that, like Matthias, you can eventually get stuck and can jeopardize the achievements that are waiting for you in your future.

Today I'd like to encourage you to reflect on the story of Seb and Matthias and make the decision to leave your mistakes where you make them. In this way, you'll be able to learn from your mistakes but will still be able to move forward to achieve your ultimate objective.

Until Next Time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony

Many people expect there to be a direct relationship between the amount of effort they put into achieving their goal and the progress they make. This ideal situation is illustrated in the following diagram:

It would be nice if things worked like this, but in the real world, the relationship between effort and progress usually looks more like this:

When you start working towards achieving a goal you are usually very motivated and make good progress. However, if you're like most people, after a while your initial enthusiasm wavers and although you continue to work hard, it begins to feel like you are getting nowhere. This feeling is a good indication that you have reached a plateau as shown in the above picture.

It is VERY important to understand how to approach this situation because most people who give up on their dream, do so when they are in the middle of a plateau. They become tired of working hard and making little progress, so they give up before achieving their objective.

Successful people on the other hand expect to encounter plateaus on the way to achieving their goal and they know that the secret to pushing through a plateau is to:

focus on the process rather than your progress.

Here's an example that illustrates what I mean:

Ann's dream was to write and self publish her own book. When she started writing she was very motivated and made great progress, but after a few weeks she began to feel as though she was getting nowhere and was very tempted to give up - She had reached a plateau.

In order to push through this plateau, Ann decided to focus on the process rather than her progress and committed herself to write for four hours a day come what may. After four weeks of this routine, Ann realised that she had completed the first draft of her first chapter and felt as though she suddenly jumped to a whole new level.

In the months that followed, Ann repeated this pattern of progress, plateau, progress until the incredible day when she finally held her printed book in her hand.

Today I'd like to encourage you to approach your goals with an awareness of the plateaus that you will encounter on your way to success. If you are currently in the middle of a plateau, make the decision to focus on the process rather than your progress and continue to push forward.

If you adopt this approach you will soon come to the end of your plateau and feel yourself make the leap to a new level of achievement. This in turn will give you the momentum and belief you need to overcome future plateaus until you reach that magical day when your dream becomes your reality.

Until next time,

Dare to Dream!

Anthony

So how do you go about finding  your passion in life?

A great place to start is with something I call the Passion Equation. Here it is:

Interest + Information = Passion

The Passion Equation is simple but extremely powerful. If you apply the formula, you will find that it can bring a great deal of happiness and personal satisfaction into your life. Here's how it works:

Step 1:

Find a quiet spot where you won't be disturbed, take a piece of paper and jot down some of the things you were interested in as a child.

Step 2:

Take your childhood interests and spend some time on the Internet doing a little research into each area. While you may no longer be interested in all the things you were as a child, chances are you will find at least one area that ignites your curiosity to learn more. As you find out more about an area you cannot help but become more interested.

Step 3:

Decide on an area that you can see yourself becoming passionate about and gather more information. Go the library and borrow books relating to your area, hire movies relating to your area. The more information you gather, the more passionate you will become.

Here are two examples of how the Passion Equation works:

Margaret's Passion

As a young girl Margaret loved to read Beatrix Potter's picture books. When Margaret found out about the Passion Equation she spent some time online and discovered that Beatrix Potter was not only an author but also an artist, scientist, entrepreneur and conservationist. Margaret rented the movie 'Miss Potter' which she loved and then borrowed a copy of Beatrix Potter's biography from the library. As she learnt more about Beatrix Potter's amazing life, Margaret discovered a passion that brought her many hours of enjoyment and pleasure.

James' Passion

As a young boy James used to dream about becoming an astronaut. When he heard about the Passion Equation he spent some time on the Internet finding out more about the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions. He then bought a copy of 'From the Earth to the Moon' on eBay. As he watched the DVDs and learnt more about the personal stories of the astronauts, he developed a passion for space exploration. He set himself the goal to one day own the signatures of each of the 12 men who have walked on the moon.

As these examples show, an interest combined with information is a great recipe for developing passion in your life.

When you use the Passion Equation and combine an interest with the magic ingredient of information, your interest will blossom into a passion that can enrich your life for many years to come.

Until next time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony

One morning a young man named Richard came upon the well and read the small plaque. Richard was a cynical young man and he scoffed at the idea of a wishing well. However, he was also very greedy so he closed his eyes and wished for a large pot of gold…just in case. He opened his eyes and looked around but nothing had changed.

As he prepared to leave, Richard happened to glance down into the well and to his amazement he saw a huge pot of gold floating at the bottom of the well. He immediately tried to reach down into the well but he could not reach the gold. Next he tried to use a piece of wood to retrieve the gold but again he had no luck. After many frustrating attempts, Richard finally gave up. He cursed the wishing well and walked away. Instantly the pot of gold disappeared.

The following day a young man named William came across the well and he too read the small plaque that identified it as 'The Wishing Well'. What William wanted more than anything else that morning was an engagement ring so that he could propose to his sweetheart Rebecca. He closed his eyes and made his wish. At first he saw nothing, but then as he glanced down into the well he saw the most beautiful diamond ring floating in an ebony box at the bottom of the well. Like Richard, William first tried to reach down into the well and then tried to use a nearby piece of wood - all to no avail.

After a great deal of frustration, he sat back and reviewed his situation. Then suddenly, in a flash of inspiration he knew what he had to do. He picked up the old bucket and walked down to the babbling brook at the base of the hill. After filling the bucket with water, he walked back up the hill and poured the water into the well. To his delight, he noticed that the level of the water in the well rose ever so slightly.

With a hint of success to spur him on, William began transferring bucket loads of water from the brook to the well. He worked steadily all day carrying buckets of water up to the wishing well. With each bucket of water he poured into the well, the ring floated closer to the surface. Finally as the sun was beginning to set, William poured in another bucket of water and the ring came within his reach. He grasped the stunning diamond ring and with a spring in his step he set off to propose to his Rebecca.

——-

The best part about this story is that the Wishing Well really does exist and is available to each and every one of us. Whenever you set a goal, your objective instantly becomes a 'possibility'. It is as though it appears in the bottom of the wishing well. You can see it, but it is beyond your reach. Many people like Richard look for a quick and easy way to reach their goal but they inevitably get frustrated and walk away.

Those who achieve true success understand how life's Wishing Well works. Like William, they recognise that they must put in the time and effort to fill their well before they can collect their prize.

Today I'd like to encourage you to decide what you really want from life's wishing well and commit yourself to the process of filling your well in order to transform your dreams into reality.

Until next time,

Dare to Dream!

Anthony

Here's a true story that illustrates the concept of life's whispers:

David was an emergency physician who faced life and death situations on an almost daily basis. He worked long hours and lived his life in a high stress and high pressure environment.

One afternoon as he walked up the stairs to his car, David felt a tightness in his chest. As he was only 41, he dismissed it as heart burn. In the days that followed, the tightness returned but David was too busy to take much notice. Then he realised that life was whispering to him. He knew that if a patient came to him with the symptoms he was experiencing he would tell them to have some tests.

To cut a long story short, David booked himself in for a checkup and discovered that one of his coronary arteries was blocked. He had a stent inserted and was able to return to his normal activities within a few days.

By listening to life's whisper and taking action, David avoided a life threatening situation.

Today I'd like to encourage you to take a step back from your daily routine, and find a quiet moment to stop and listen for life's whispers.

Is there a health issue you should get checked out?

Is there someone you should touch base with?

Is there something you know you should do but haven't got around to?

When you take the time to listen for life's whispers you will discover that they are an incredibly valuable tool that will help you stay on track and avoid many of the pitfalls on the road to achieving your most important life goals.

Until Next Time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony

Michael's performance was seen by millions of people around the world and we can all learn a great deal about achieving our own goals by analyzing his accomplishment. Here then, are five secrets of success that helped Michael Phelps to transform his dreams into reality.

Secret #1: Think BIG

The first step in Michael Phelps journey was to make the decision to pursue a dream that many people considered impossible. Instead of thinking negative thoughts and limiting his potential, Michael allowed himself to think big.

"If you dream as big as you can dream,
anything is possible."
- Michael Phelps

Your Turn:

In order to discover your real goals, let your imagination run free to dream as big as you can dream. Resist the temptation to limit yourself with negative thoughts. It is only by freeing your imagination that you can discover what it is that you really want from life.

Secret #2: Break it Down

Having identified his ultimate goal, Michael and his coach created a series of short term goals that would eventually lead him to his ultimate objective. In between the Olympics came the National championships, the Pan Pacific championships and the World championships. Each race of each event was a carefully planned stepping stone that would eventually lead Michael to achieve his ultimate goal of becoming the most successful Olympian of all time.

Your Turn:

After identifying your long term goal, take some time to break it down into a series of achievable short term goals. As you move forward, focus on achieving your short term goals one step at a time.

Secret #3: Use the Power of Visualization

One of the most powerful techniques used by elite athletes to achieve their goals is to visualize themselves succeeding each and every day. In his book 'Beneath the Surface', Michael Phelps writes, "When I'm about to fall asleep, I visualize to the point that I know exactly what I want to do: dive, glide, stroke, flip, reach the wall, hit the split time to the hundredth, then swim back again for as many times as I need to finish the race".

Your Turn:

Visualizing your goals before you sleep is a great way to program your subconscious mind. The more you visualize your dreams as a reality, the more motivated and determined you will become.

Secret #4: Put in the Hard Work

No matter how naturally talented Michael Phelps may be, the main reason he achieved his goals was because he was prepared to put in the thousands of hours of grueling hard work necessary to compete at the highest level. According to Michael, "In the four years between the Athens and Sydney Olympics I probably took four or five days off and none of those were holidays"

Your Turn:

Be prepared to put in the hard work required to transform your dreams into reality. There really is no such thing as getting something for nothing. In order to make your dreams a reality you will have to work hard.

Secret #5: Monitor Your Performance Metrics

Every elite athlete understands the importance of using metrics to monitor their performance and progress. Michael's coach Bob Bowman constantly monitors and reviews Michael's split times down to the hundredth of a second. This provides them both with tangible evidence of how Michael is progressing towards achieving his goals.

Your Turn:

As you work towards your goals, figure out your own key metrics. For example, if you are studying, record how many hours of productive work you do each day. Or if you are building a business, record how many potential customers you contact each week. Whatever your goal may be, you will get there faster by recording and constantly improving your performance metrics.

While you may not be pursuing an Olympic gold medal, always remember that your life goals are just as important. I’d like to encourage you today to use some of the same techniques Michael Phelps used to achieve his goals. If you can

you too can conquer the challenges that stand in your way and make your dreams a reality.

Until Next Time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony

Many people make the mistake of referring to their past in order to obtain a prediction of their future. They say things like:

"My last two business ventures have failed so I guess I'll never have a successful business"

Or

"I've always had problematic relationships so I guess I'll never meet the right person"

It's very important to realise that no matter what has happened in the past, your future is still an open field of possibilities.

Many of the world's most successful people have achieved their success after perservering in the face of hardship and failure. For example:

• The Beatles were turned down by the Decca recording company but they went on to become one of the most successful bands of all time.
• Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basket ball team but he went on to become one of the most successful basketball players in the world.
• Joanne Rowling struggled through a collapsed marriage and occasionally had to skip meals to make sure she had enough money to feed her four month old baby but she went on to sell over 400 million copies of her books and become the highest earning novelist in history.

As these examples show, past failures and hardships do not exclude you from future success. In fact it is often through failure that people develop the skills and strength of character they need to succeed.

No matter how many times you have failed in the past, always remember this important fact:

Your Past Does Not Dictate Your Future

As you read this article, your future is filled with endless possibilities - there are new opportunities waiting to be discovered, new relationships waiting to blossom and new adventures waiting to begin.

So I encourage you today to turn away from the failures of the past and instead look forward to creating your future success.

Until Next Time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony

One of the most effective ways to minimize procrastination is to become aware of your procrastination triggers. These are the specific actions that cause you to start procrastinating in the first place. Here's a real world example that illustrates the concept of procrastination triggers.

For me, Saturday morning is 'domestic time'. I usually begin each Saturday morning by doing my washing, cleaning the house and going to the gym. Last week however, instead of doing what I needed to do, I procrastinated and was shocked to find that I had somehow wasted the entire morning watching reruns of the TV show 'Friends'. At the end of this procrastination session I asked myself a very useful question…

What was the specific action that led me to start procrastinating?

When I asked this question, I realised that the action that led me to start procrastinating was 'turning the TV on while having breakfast'. This simple innocuous action had somehow led me to waste an entire morning!

In this respect 'turning on the TV while having breakfast' can be seen to be a procrastination trigger. It was the specific action that led me to start procrastinating. Now that I'm aware of this trigger, I can easily avoid it and by doing so I can also avoid Saturday morning procrastination.

So next time you find yourself procrastinating, stop and ask, "What was the specific action that led me to start procrastinating?" This will help you to identify your own procrastination triggers.

When you become aware of your procrastination triggers they are generally quite easy to avoid and each time you avoid a procrastination trigger you also avoid losing the most precious commodity of all - time.

Until next time,

Dare To Dream!

Anthony