Think about this. Behind every overnight success is 20 years of hard and, in some cases, torturous work. No one achieves success without some level of sacrifice, effort, determination and persistence. You have everything you need inside of you to achieve whatever success you can imagine. You are no different than the person who owns a car dealership, develops land, creates a franchise, or invents the next big product line. You can do anything you set your mind to. What do you want to create for yourself?

“To dream anything you want to dream, that is the beauty of the human mind. To do anything that you want to do, that is the strength of the human will. To trust yourself to test your limits, that’s the courage to succeed.” Bernard Edmunds

One thing very successful people have in common is that they focus positive energy on the expectation of success. When they go out into the world each and everyday they expect success no matter how small that may be. They focus their energy on the ideal outcomes they desire from a meeting before entering that meeting. They think positively about how their ideas will be received and embraced. They know that if they focus positive energy on the expectation of succeeding that it will bring them that much closer to realizing success.

The power of focusing on positive outcomes in life cannot be underestimated. When you project positive energy on something you want to create for yourself or the world you are one great big step closer to making that goal a reality. Successful people will visualize in their minds the ideal outcomes they are looking for, allowing those outcomes to become real in their imagination.

“Our imagination is the only limit to what we can hope to have in the future.”

Charles Kettering

For example, if you want to win a bass tournament like The Elite Series Sooner Run held on Grand Lake, you will come one step closer to winning by imagining where the bass are going to be caught, the casts, the smells, the feelings and catching the big one. Imagine being on the stage with the winning weight, being handed the trophy and the oversized check, the applause from the crowd and the celebration that follows. When your imagination makes this so real that when you come back to reality you are not sure if it was real or not, you are on your way to winning the tournament. Athletes have used this technique for centuries. Whatever success you want to achieve, visualize it in your mind and imagine it being real over and over and over again. Eventually it will become a reality.

The other thing successful people have in common is that they know when they don’t succeed, which will happen more often than not, they will not give up and they will continue to keep the positive energy flowing. They look for the lessons they can learn from their failures and then apply those lessons when they try for it again. This is not always easy. The falls of life can be hard, but this is where the possibility of success and giving up takes place. They get themselves back up and dust themselves off with an attitude of “keep on keeping on.”

“Nothing can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genus will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the work is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” Calvin Coolidge

You have read it before in What Box? and you will continue to read it: “We all have a purpose in life.” Many successful people have discovered and embraced their purpose in life as a way to gain continued and growing success. There is quite possibly nothing more important in your life than focusing on understanding and living your life’s purpose which will make it easier for you to focus on the positive through what you may perceive as negative experiences. As a result, you will find that will become easier for you to expect success in whatever you do and your ability to stretch and take risks in life will enable your successes to grow and increase the older and wiser you get.

Next time you are looking towards creating success in your life go ahead and imagine what that success looks like before it takes place. Focus all your energy on the outcomes being real before they are imagining the success over and over again. Place your intentions on living your purpose and never ever give up. You can do it!

Let me know what you think.

Until next week, remember the only boxes that exist are the ones you create yourself.

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People who think out-of-the-box see and open new possibilities. In many cases these are the leaders who challenge us and inspire us to think differently and rise up into action. It is hard to think of a more out-of-the-box bunch than America’s founding fathers. Let’s face it. They had to be to think they could take on England, the most powerful nation on earth in 1776. In our founding fathers’ day their out-of-the-box thinking revolved around a nation based upon liberty, justice, free speech, all men are created equal, the separation of church and state, the right to participate in the religion of your choice, the right to bear arms, and the ability to participate in deciding who represents you in our government. The idea of voting for who you want representing you is quite possibly one of our founding fathers greatest legacies.

Benjamin Franklin is one of the greatest examples of an out-of-the-box thinker I can think of. As an entrepreneur, author, inventor, publisher, philosopher, Casanova, and diplomat, Franklin was able to enroll France to support the founding fathers with much needed money and resources. This was no small task as no country wanted to get embroiled in the controversy of supporting an unrecognized band of out-of-the-box thinkers, fighting England, in an unchartered far away place.

Thomas Jefferson acted as architect of one of the most important vision and mission documents in the history of man, the Declaration of Independence.

George Washington risked it all to fight for freedom and liberty and then stepped up to the plate to become our newly born nation’s first President.

Their out-of-the-box thinking and risk taking has inspired and moved our nation for over 232 years. And much like England during the time of America’s birth, we became the most powerful nation on earth.

“I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be.” Thomas Jefferson

I wonder what Ben Franklin would have to say about where we find our great nation at this point in history?

“Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.” Benjamin Franklin

As we look out over the landscape of our world today, we find ourselves at a crossroads in history. America has an opportunity to lead the world and show what is possible by uniting and leading by example. America is not its President, its Senators, its Congressmen, or its special interest groups. America is its citizens. We the people are able to choose who we want representing us by going out and voting.

How can we regain the “out-of-the-box” thinking that inspired the birth of our nation? Now more than ever we need to reach down deep and pull out the best we can be to take on the challenges of today and tomorrow. Why is it that we need to be hit by lightening bolts to wake up and face reality? Then after being awakened, over time, we have a tendency to get complacent, forget, and go back to our old patterns of living.

We cannot afford to fall back into our old patterns. We need to support new thinking from both our major political parties and all of the candidates. We can support new thinking by understanding the issues, where our candidates stand, and letting our voices be heard by voting.

“For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions, even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise.” Benjamin Franklin

You have the power to influence the next chapter of our great country and the world by voting for the best candidate to represent all of us. It is critical that we understand all of the candidates’ merits, faults, strengths, weaknesses, and vision for our future. This understanding will enable you to make the best possible decision when you go to the polls to vote.

As part of Ben Franklin’s legacy he has left us a powerful tool to support our ability to make informed decisions, the Pro-Con Chart, a thinking and decision making tool that is as viable today as it was when he was using it over 200 years ago. In fact, this is the same exercise Kristen and I used when we were making our big decision to move, or not to move, to Grand Lake way back when. Ben liked to use a Pro-Con Chart when the decisions he had to make were some of the most important he was about to make.

Here is how it works. At the top of a piece of paper put the candidates name centered on 1/2 the page then draw a line under each name. From the center of the paper draw a line down just under the name so you have two equal spaces to your left and right. At the top of the left under the name and line put the word Pro. On the right side under the name and line put the word Con. Then write down all the Pro and Con concepts you can come up with on why you would vote or not vote for this candidate. Next to each Pro and Con concept place a number from 1 –10, “10” being the most important and “1” being the least. Take your time and be realistic about your number rating. After attaching a number to each concept, add up the numbers on each side and total. These thoughts and figures will help you better understand your deeper thinking.

Put your candidate and their opponent to the Ben Franklin Pro-Con test! See if you are making the best choice you can be making.

I think that Ben would be proud. See you at the polling booths on November 4^th.

Let me know what you think.

Until next week, remember that the only boxes that exist are the ones you create for yourself.

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If you are one of the few people that has figured this out, congratulations. If you are among the many who continue to think that there is something more to life than just going through the motions, then now is the time to start working towards living your life’s purpose. What are you waiting for?

What is your dream? What is it that you most desire but don’t currently have in you life? What is it that you are meant to be doing with your life?

“Nothing happens unless first a dream.” Carl Sandberg

None of these are easy questions to answer, but once you ask them you will begin the process of opening the doors of perception and begin to naturally move towards reaching your full potential.

I know that for some of us it is just too hard to even start the process of thinking about how to achieve what it is that we dream of for our lives. It is just easier not to think about it. Finding the answers to these questions might mean that we have to change what we are currently doing, change who we live with , change our careers or even move to another location. These are just a few of the reasons why so many people settle and never take the powerful steps needed to reach for something more in their lives in order to discover what the purpose of their life really is.

“To change one’s life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions.” William James

Even if we want to change we can get stuck in a rut. Like a broken record we continue to do what we have always done because it’s more comfortable, like our favorite pair of old worn jeans. At some point you have to make the change and throw those jeans away or find a new use for them. You need to change elements of your life every once in a while otherwise you will start to get tired, worn out, and bored. This leads to complacency and a mental plaque that prevents you from seeing the opportunities around you. You are unique, you are special, you have a purpose in life and it is important to you and the world that you pursue your purpose in life and live it.

What are you waiting for?

You can start by writing down everything you have dreamed about what your life could be. Write down all that comes to you as fast as you can. Don’t think about how whacked out your dreams may be. Don’t stop and think, “This is just too much for anyone to think is real.” Don’t worry at all about what it is you are writing down. Just do it! You can do it!

“We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers. They see things in the soft haze of a spring day or in the red fire of a long winter’s evening. Some of us let these great dreams die, but others nourish and protect them; they nurse them thought bad day until they bring them to the sunshine and the light that always comes to those who sincerely hope that there dreams will come true.”Woodrow Wilson

After you have written down your dreams, even if just one, post them on the mirror in your bathroom. Look at them each morning. Think about what it would be like if your dreams became real. How would you feel?

The next step is to write down what you need to do to make your dreams real. Start taking these steps. It may take weeks. It may take months. It may take years. It may take a lifetime. It doesn’t matter because you are living your dreams and nothing could be more important.

“Allow yourself to dream and fantasize about your ideal life; what it would look like, and what it would feel like. Then do something everyday to make it a reality.” Brian Tracy

What are you waiting for?

In my life I work everyday to live my dreams and my life’s purpose. The more I work at this the easier it becomes. Really. I will say this. Your life will never be the same once you embark on this process because you will enter into the great unknown and the world will open up for you. You will start meeting people who are aligned with your dreams and will want to help you. You will start to experience new challenges that will stretch you, enabling you to grow. You will start going with the flow of life. You will start living your purpose. What could be more important?

If you desire to live your life with greater meaning and purpose there is no time like the present to start. You can do it!

“If one advances confidently in the direction of his own dreams and endeavors to live the life that he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” Henry David Thoreau

What are you waiting for?

Let me know what you think.

Until next week, remember the only boxes that exist are the ones you create yourself.

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I headed outside, lit a fire in the fire pit on the banks of the lake, and took in the beauty and wonder of the morning. The fire was starting to roar and the cup of freshly brewed coffee tasted especially good. With the thick mist and my attention on nature I did not even notice that there were fishing boats trolling along the banks of the lake. As the mist began to lift, it unveiled almost seven bass fishing boats in the hollow and fishermen fishing their hearts out.

At first I was saddened by the shear number of fishermen in the hollow taking away from the magic moment of nature awakening. There clearly was a fishing tournament taking place and my hollow was a target to catch the big one. The fishermen on Grand Lake and I have a tenuous relationship to say the least. Between the trash that is left behind in the water and banks of the lake, many fishermen’s disrespect for nature, and the noise created by their boats, a few “rotten apples” have really tarnished my perspective.

With this in mind I decided to take some of my own medicine and move into a What Box? way of thinking and being about my uninvited guests in the hollow. I thought about what a privilege it is to be able to awaken to the morning on Grand Lake, and I sat down to observe what all the excitement of fishing on the lake was all about.

“I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.” Abraham Lincoln

Having grown up fly-fishing for trout in California and Oregon, I at least had some level of understanding about the level of excitement generated by a fish taking hook.

As I sat by the warm fire sipping my coffee I, became aware that I had never noticed the wisdom of fishermen, that of having patience. I mean a lot of patience. All the boats moved slowly along the shore as the fishermen were casting and casting and casting and casting their lines as they were looking for the big one to bite. In some cases they would sit in one spot for extended periods working a spot in hopes of landing their imagined fish.

This got me thinking about what a different world it would be if these same people applied the level of patience and persistence to their lives as they do when they are fishing. Every single one of the fishermen was in a state of ultimate patience and seemed to be very peaceful as they fished away the morning. When one boat would leave, another two or three would take their place bringing fishermen who joined those already fishing the hollow, settling into the same attitude of patience and peacefulness as the fishermen who were already there.

“This would be a fine world if all the men showed as much patience all the time as they do while they’re waiting for fish to bite.” Vaughan Monroe

What I realized is that these fishermen were focused on what they could do to improve their chances of catching the big one and not necessarily on the outcome. They were interested in improving their cast, observing the way their bait was moving in the water, and learning from what worked and what did not work in the pursuit of catching a fish. Their patience during this process of discovery was amazing to observe and something we can all learn from.

In real life we seem to forget that patience is a key to success in life. We are impatient about almost everything today. In our instant gratification lifestyle things cannot get done or be done for us fast enough. We set unrealistic self-imposed timetables on our lives that only work to increase our impatience and frustrations.

“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” John Quincy Adams

Things were not always this way. In a time when we had to hunt for our food, we needed to use our instincts of observation, curiosity, attention to detail, and unrelenting patience if we were not to go hungry. These were the characteristics of humans in the early days. Today we appear to have lost the ability to be patient. If this is true, how can we reclaim this important skill?

Maybe, just maybe, the bass fishermen of Grand Lake have touched onto a way to reclaim the art of patience. The question is will they be able retain this patience as they lift their boats out of the water and carry on with their lives? What a different world this would be if we could have the patience of the fishermen that I have observed.

Fishermen wisdom, their interest and patience in learning to improve their skills to become the best fishermen they can be, has something to teach us. What kind of activity can you do that would inspire more patience in your life?

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let me know what you think.

Until next week, remember the only boxes that exist are the ones you create for yourself.

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Do you have a sense that without you things would not get done, that your importance to any given situation is critical for success?

Are you a person who is unwilling to take time off, let go, or take extended vacations because without your presence, Johnny on the spot, everything would come to a horrible conclusion or worse?

Like many of us today I have a strong feeling that if I take too much time away from my activities things will some how not be as good, creative, or as meaningful as I would like them to be. If I am away I think that things might not go my way or in the direction that I believe to be best.

This is my never ending ego getting in the way of me being a “human being” instead of a “human doing” and focusing my attention on my delusional level of high importance. Yes, I may play a role, act as a tool for good, or contribute to a team, but in the end things go on with or without me.

“The man who thinks he can live without others is mistaken; the one who thinks others can’t live without him is even more deluded.” Hasidic Saying

Guess what? Life keeps on keeping on with or without you as well. Governments continue without any particular President. Kingdoms continue with different Kings and Queens. Families go on without certain family members. Advertisers keep advertising, taxes keep coming, bills keep piling up, and the earth keeps turning with or without you being around.

Here is something to think about. There will always be more in your inbox than in your outbox when you die. And after you do die, bills will keep coming in and the ongoing impact of your life will continue even without you.

What are you living for; is being important and working hard the most important thing to you?

Alexander the Great may have made one of the most vivid points about life after his death. As part of his funeral, his request to be paraded over miles of cobble stone roads carried by those who had been part of his life. People took turns carrying his coffin through the streets. His arms dangled out of holes in the right and left side of the coffin showcasing that even though he ruled most of the world during his reign he could not take any of it with him. It was a vivid reminder that life keeps on keeping on with or without even Alexander the Great!

As I sit on a sandy beach on Isla HolBox in Mexico, I wonder how so many of us get to such a place where our perceived importance overtakes our ability to play, to relax, to take time for family and friends, and to spend more time with our toes in the sand.

Nothing is so important that you are not able to take time for yourself, time spent to recharge and reinvigorate yourself. On the flip side, you are not so important to any project or endeavor that without you things will not work out just as they are supposed to.

“One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one’s work is terribly important.” Bertrand Russell

Next time you think to yourself, “I could really use a vacation.” Take it! Next time you think, “I would really like to play ball with my son.” Do it! Next time you feel like taking a break, take it!

Letting go of our perceived importance is difficult work to be sure, but it is worth doing.

When you are able to take the steps of letting go and embrace your role as “a player” in a much larger world instead of seeing yourself as “the critical player,” doors will open for you and you will have the great potential to set yourself free.

Because in the end, no matter what you think or believe, life keeps on keeping on with or without you.

Let me know what you think.

Until next week remember, the only boxes that exist are the ones you create yourself.

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