From Figments to Reality

Image credit: CanStockPhoto.com

      Although the title and topic of our discussion this week is that "Thoughts are Things", we were also immediately asked to consider desire, being definite, having purpose, being persistent, even bordering upon obsession.

      Every chapter of this book lays out pieces of all of the secrets. Some chapters only focus on a few, or even try to focus on a single one, but every single chapter is woven with the strong fabric of knowledge. The knowledge that we are the most powerful creatures on this planet. The knowledge that our power can be positive or negative. The knowledge that when we combine the power of all of the positive, the total is far greater than the simple sum of the parts.

      I have been thinking heavily, lately, of the progress I've made and also where I haven't made any progress.

      I have been in similar states like this before. Finding myself on a road with a fork in it. Do I stay on the path I've been on? Do I continue much as I have so far? Or, do I take this turn?

      Once I decide, I know there are few if any roads back, and those are more difficult to travel, or worse yet, in a reverse direction back to that same fork.

      I know that it won't always be clear that I've made the correct choice along the way. There will be desire-threatening obstacles. But I have made these decisions before. I haven't always executed them perfectly. I even had to settle for good enough (very challenging for my personality). But I also know there will be an almost unconscious blur that can occur in the knowing it works, when it's working.

      To be in an excited state of not being able to go to sleep at night.

      To anticipate the dawn of the new day and awake, even before the alarm goes off, jumping out of bed to advance our cause.

      It is all found in this book. And the journey begins within our own minds. It begins with our thoughts. Thoughts become all manner of things.

with gratitude and in service,

Tony, Lisa, Michael and Amanda Koker

The Six Ghosts of Fear

Image credit: CanStockPhoto.com

        Fear can motivate us. Fear is negative. Napoleon Hills grouped all fears into one of six categories: POVERTY, CRITICISM, ILL HEALTH, LOSS OF LOVE OF SOMEONE, OLD AGE, and the fear of DEATH. In the second part of the chapter he discusses SUSCEPTIBILITY TO NEGATIVE INFLUENCES. He also listed the negative emotions, in an earlier chapter (12): The emotion of FEAR, JEALOUSY, HATRED, REVENGE, GREED, SUPERSTITION, and ANGER. After reading all of this it is clear that these fears, negative influences and negative emotions all form vicious circles of chains that bind and bound us down, keeping us hostage, if we let them. We must use the power of the positive emotions: DESIRE, FAITH, LOVE, SEX, ENTHUSIASM, ROMANCE and HOPE and the other techniques and principles we have learned.

        Knowing that a speeding car is not likely going to be able to turn or swerve in time, we could flee.

        I've read or listened to someone that the responses we demonstrate to various fears are always either FREEZE, FIGHT or FLIGHT. What happens when we freeze in front of that oncoming car? We certainly wouldn't consider, or at least not for very long, the notion that we might fight with it, right? Hopefully our mind is able to analyze the situation, using ALL of our SIX senses, and correctly motivates us to run, jump or dodge in plenty of time to avoid disaster or injury.

        Nature or nurture? Are we born with certain fears? Certainly most, if not all, have been learned, rather than having been built into us.

        Are we in a trance? Are we so bombarded that our brain rarely has a thought any more, that hasn't been planted by a text message, email, song, jingle, image, or worse, something that combines many of these, like television or a movie into one shotgun blast of blockage and damage? Even books, where our imagination is used to paint the pictures, sites and sounds we see provide either positives or negatives. Usually we are presented with both, at the same time. Luckily we can control the mechanism to reinforce the positive and reject the negative. If too much of the negative is passed through without being rejected, the pathways get clogged with obstructions, rerouted, or broken entirely. We then have to work all that much harder to clear the obstructions, reroute again, or even build from scratch, all over again. The great part of this, our incredible brain is resilient. As long as there remains one single glimmer of spark in our thoughts that is derived from OUR desires, we CAN build the paths again, one by one. Each building on the others until we fashion again a massive super highway network, working in concert and alignment for OUR desires.

        Critical thinking is essential for us to discern what messages we let in, but we also have to have the confidence to know, that should things we didn't desire sneak into our brain, which they always seem to do, that we have the abilities to reinforce our desires.

        It is being confident, yet humble, without being arrogant. We all still make mistakes and are not yet perfect in that regard. Also, it is participating to help others, thereby finding inspiration to solutions for our own challenges. Our physical and virtual mastermind groups are fertile oceans of energy that provide insight and inspiration to all those involved. We are alive, awake, alert, enthusiastic and find ourselves at higher and higher levels of positive emotional, mental, spiritual and physical vibrations of energy. We can achieve and overcome anything. We can evolve the whole ocean by remaining the perfect self, just the way we are, growing, together and individually.

 

with gratitude and in service,

Tony, Lisa, Michael and Amanda Koker

The Sixth Sense

Image credit: CanStockPhoto.com

A sixth sense, a portion of our subconscious mind, our "Creative Imagination", "a receiving set for ideas, plans and thoughts" are all phrases that Napoleon Hill uses to describe this week's topic. Intuition, gut feeling, instinct, knowing that we know, if you know what I mean are also phrases that could be used. Mental and spiritual ... Miracles ... Aha, eureka or epiphany moments ... these are the results we achieve or are achieved on our behalf.

Once we can relate to what it is, how do we endeavor to use it? The steps have been clearly outlined during our journey through the preceding chapters. We can then receive "without efforts or demands."

A virtual mastermind group is a solution that Napoleon Hill describes, perhaps to embarrassing detail (to himself), through much of the latter part of the chapter. Even this seems to have worked, for a time, then it didn't work so well, or he lost faith in it. It was then abandoned, only to return again in urnest but in a further evolved and more insistent form. The focal characters were always shifting and changing over time. A student of the characters he was able to leverage their gifts for his behalf.

Is this a form your Creative Imagination is suggesting you should use? If so, who are your Counselors? Are they your heroes? Are they real or fictitious? So often I have found myself focused upon someone who themselves are a creation of someone else's imagination. How do I stay focused in reality, yet avail myself of this enormously powerful ability? Growing up I admired Sherlock Holmes as an role model. I've even tried to focus on real people, but most that I look to, when scrutinized expose their flaws. We all have these. That's why we need so many on our committee. We have to be able to balance the positives and stay focused on our true desires as they further unfold. We are multifaceted diamonds, but still in-the-rough on many edges. We may believe we understand what our true desires are, but, as we grow, we learn that these too evolve into even greater places.

Of all of the characters who are on my committee, those who remain silent, in the dark recesses towards the back, step forward into the foreground, in the bright light to be heard again when the time is right. I call them characters, because, although they do start off as real as possible people, they always seem to become a little glamorized. I've found they tend to be flawless in their special attribute(s) and have managed to completely reduce any negative side effects to nearly imperceptible. But that, after all, is what we are really trying to do with ourselves, isn't it?

With all of the media that bombards us daily it is extremely difficult to stay focused in real role models. It has to be worked at. We have to eliminate those who let the distracting creep in, while we have to also work to surround ourselves as much as possible with those who are focused and taking action. We can meet with them on the phone, in person, or, by other means. Perhaps we can even arrange to sit down and have a meal with them, or travel and visit or even vacation with them. Even brief encounters can plant the seeds for a successful addition to the mastermind.

I could write volumes about my counselors. My dad, who passed away in 1989, is still a major and active participant in my committee. The epitome of self-sacrifice, he never wavers in his dedication to actively performing to be of benefit to all those around him. My wife, who has found and uses the secret of service to others as the means in indirectly achieving her own desires. Even my children, who have grown into critical thinking adults. They too provide me with constant council using the evolved fusion of the experiences they've had and are still having on their journeys, but from new perspectives. Many teachers as well as historical figures also play roles. I constantly read to explore for others who may have learned just one more special ingredient to be added to the recipe.

If you are not inspired to utilize Hill's process of a virtual mastermind what do you do? How vivid can this process become? Can you see images of places, people and things, much like a dream, but remaining fully conscious? Is it day dreaming? Such an intense state of deep focus of vibration and thought could be considered meditation. Yet it all seems to occur in an instant. And complex challenges are dealt with over many of these sessions over, possibly, a great deal of time.

The sum total of all that we have explored so far, this is certainly the master key with which to unlock all doors.

 

with gratitude and in service,

Tony, Lisa, Michael and Amanda Koker

The Brain - A Broadcasting and Receiving Station for Thought

Image: http://http://www.canstockphoto.com/

      Having read, written and discussed the subconscious mind, last week I think I focused on myself and what is sent from the subconscious to the conscious mind. In doing so I skimmed over the creative imagination although that is the fuel for the subconscious; the connecting dots were not evident to me until this week.

      Like in a couple of other lesssons this time through the book, my first inkling was to write some more about self-talk, and how this programs our subconscious and conscious mind to work in concert to focus and act on our desires. However, although similar, the lesson I learned this week was significantly greater in size, power and importance.

      I was poking around in my marketing and advertising effort, after tonight's Coach's Corner Mastermind call, and then, as I was brushing my teeth before bed, I had another ah-haa moment. A crystal clear picture appeared in my mind. My pulse began to race as I realized just what Napoleon Hill is talking about in this chapter. I could actually see this principle in action although it initially was simply for the limited scope of my marketing and advertising effort. I then went back to my computer to capture what I saw in that picture, but as it applies to the much greater scope Napoleon Hill presents.

      While our self-talk permits us to personally program our thoughts to be in harmony with our desires, it is our creative imagination, which links us to Infinite Intelligence. Hill reminded us of sex transmutation as our strongest internal and emotional method to increasing the rate of vibrations, but here, in this chapter, he attempts to touch upon that which is significantly more powerful and without bounds.

      He talked about the 14 billion orderly nerve cells we have in our brain, with some discussion of telepathy and clairvoyance and then hinted some more at this awesome force and its intangible nature.

      We are all part of this invisible ocean of vibrations. When we program ourselves to produce a harmony of desire that is focused and able to be acted upon, we become a towering light house, shining our beacon throughout this ocean for all who are receptive to see and experience. When we further combine our efforts with others, through brainstorming and mastermind sessions, we create repeaters or harmonic sympathizers that amplify the vibrations, increasing the intensity of our light, and extending it's range well beyond the bounds of ourselves and our surroundings.

      Those that have better understanding than we do, pick up the signal, and send back suggestions for improvement. Infinite Intelligence, in tune with all of the waves as well as the existance or absence of light houses, further influences and directs the vibrations like a conductor of an orchestra. Those that are seeking improvement just need to be open and aware enough to see the changes. Maybe the light we see blinks, or changes color? Our creative imagination provides the channel into our subconscious.

      We need to constantly work to remain in harmonic sympathy within ourselves as well as with our mastermind group to continue to provide the energy and vibrations necessary to remain in that towering light house. As we constantly succumb to the distracting or even negative influences around us in our sensory world, we need to develop habits that help us to keep our lighthouse in superior working order.

with gratitude and in service,

Tony Koker

The Subconscious Mind

Image: (c) http://www.canstockphoto.com

My Subconscious Mind

      After reading this chapter again I was impressed upon to describe with detail what a walking tour of my subconscious mind might be like. I don't really have a view of what it might look like from the outside looking in, except for what we normally see as a grey, wrinkled yet large pea-shaped mass. Rather, I observe as though I am already inside.

      I feel dampness as I seem to be at the lowest levels. It is very dark here. The walls seem like those of a cave. There are sights, sounds and feelings here, but they seem very base and raw, yet very powerful. I feel intense fear and hunger, my heart is racing and I find myself focusing on my need to keep breathing. There actually seems to be writing on the walls, but the chill and anxiousness I feel here strongly encourages me to wander higher and beyond.

      As I move upward along one of the paths, I see all manner of flashing lights, like nearby rooms with displayed images, or strobes of colorful performance or party venues. Light and dark the lights pulse with various energies. Its a wonder of activity, yet it seems as though everything is contained, packaged neatly into compartments, yet readily available to be accessed. It almost seems like a library full of bookshelves, yet there are all manner of storage. Some containers seem to have sights, sounds, textures, heat and even odors, while others buzz alone with energy.

      There is just so much to experience, I cannot possibly explore everywhere. There seems to be activity. Containers appear to be in a constant process of being rearranged, reordered, called forward, and just as quickly dismissed in a rush into the echos of the cavernous beyond.

      At the highest level of my subconscious mind I hear this rhythmic repetition. It sounds like words, but they quickly vibrate into sensual collections. Collections of images, sounds, scents and vibrations of emotion combine into this song. There is no counterflow or resistance here. In comes the song. The package starts rather vague. As the song continues, the package is taking shape. Almost like a mist or fog it begins to resemble something more and more tangible. As the song is repeated, the process expands to influence all of the activity. The rearrangement of everything begins to vibrate to the rhythm and melody of the song.

      All at once, the song stops, but the activity continues long after. There are subtle signs that the activity is beginning to again become more random, but just as quickly as it stopped the words begin again and the song plays on and the activity continues stronger than ever.

with gratitude and in service,

Tony Koker

THE MYSTERY OF SEX TRANSMUTATION

Image: © http://www.mouserunner.com/index.html

“the changing, or transferring of one element, or form of energy, into another.” - Napoleon Hill

"The emotion of sex brings into being a state of mind." - Napoleon Hill

The emotion of sex is positive, intense, and powerful. It is a direct, driving and motivating influence. Usually we try to use as many of our senses, or use descriptions of sensual experience when we write or tell a story or lesson. But, that is what makes the emotion of sex such a challenge to transmute. We have to train ourselves to focus this emotion inwardly, away from our senses, and into vibrations of thought. Maybe we can feel this. Feel the increased vibrations of other positive emotions. Enthusiasm, desire, love, romance, faith, hope and even prosperity all can be derived from the channeled emotion of sex. It can cause adrenaline to be felt corsing through our veins, but not for other physical responses, but mental (thoughtful) and emotional ones.

Working backwards to thoughts are things, and even further, emotions become thoughts. Emotions are energy and vibrations. Thoughts are energy and vibrations. We must try to focus the emotion of sex and its tremendous energy. Our strongest emotion can best feed our creative imagination, if we channel it and link with Infinite Intelligence. Emotions become thoughts.

Do emotions have color? What color is the emotion of sex? Is it red, or is white hotter?

Society struggles with sex. The emotion often plants seeds of physical thoughts. Its appeal is used for marketing and advertising in the world around us. We can be pulled like a leashed animal by it when we allow those messages into our minds. Turn the tables and use it to thrive.

It can help us to overcome hardships, difficulties or obstacles.

It lets us lead an offensive (vs. defensive) posture. It can be aggressive, yet playful and uplifting.

 

with gratitude and in service,

Tony Koker

POWER OF THE MASTER MIND - THE DRIVING FORCE

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Our Master Mind Alliance - What is it really?
A sounding board, of directors, directors of our own lives.
A Place ... a room? a conference room ... in the clouds, but surrounded by sunshine, delightful sounds and pleasant breezes.
We hug with our speech, each word a caress of grateful lovingkindness for each other.
A Place to verify knowledge.
A Place to discover where we are off course and make corrections.
A Place to get refueled.
A Place to fuel others.
A Place of strength and power. Energizing and invigorating.
Renewed and focused, we are better equipped to return to action.
 
with gratitude and in service,
Tony Koker

Financial Freedom

Financial Freedom is accomplished when your passive income from your assets exceeds the expenses of your liabilities.

     There are multiple ways to achieve income on the way to financial freedom. Many people go to school and get a job. Trading time for money. The carrot always seems to remain out of reach. Security and stability can be found in a job, but it is likely the most difficult way to financial freedom. Running your own business. Whether it is a traditional brick-and-mortar storefront or a work-at-home product or service, having a business of your own, while riskier, can provide much more freedom and possible financial reward. The internet has enabled many to open their own business without the expense of an office. Investments. Have your money work for you. Sooner or later you will find yourself with money to invest. It takes a little money to get started, but before long you have your investments' income as one more stream of income on your way to financial freedom. Royalties or residuals are the best way. Not all of us can write a book, patent a product, or write or perform music or movies, but any of us who can, can invest in that effort and find a path to financial freedom.
     How to choose a path to financial freedom where you already have the skills. Everyone is looking for an easy answer. It can be simple, but in the long run it won't be easy. The reward, financial freedom, will be worth it. In fact, the difficulty, once overcome actually makes the reward all the more worthwhile. What do you need to satisfy you? Are you someone who just wants to have fun? It can be Fun! Once you embrace a few fundamentals, you can function solely for the fun of it. Do you focus on Money? This is one way to measure your progress towards financial freedom. One of the challenges here is that the money often starts off small, for the amount of work you do. However, over time, you find that you have to do less and less work, but get more and more money. Details. Do you really get into all the nitty-gritty pieces of the puzzles and relish when they all come together? You can focus on getting the details right and build a solid path to financial freedom. People. Service to others. We always seem to keep that which doesn't flow through us. When we help others get what they want we work to increase everything. Don't underestimate the power of momentum on your way to financial freedom.
     Network marketing provides many of the benefits of owning your own business. It can be accomplished out of your own home. And, it can also leverage the low cost of the internet. It provides residuals and can be successful no matter which motivation (fun, money, details or people) can help keep your eye on the prize of financial freedom.
     How to succeed in achieving financial freedom? Find a strategy. Get help. Use mentors who are doing what you want to do and tap into this rich resource. Do the work. Action. The best plan is only useful if it is followed and acted upon and not just prepared. Use that slight edge everyday to take one more step on your way to financial freedom.

Just Lead - Everyone Can

     Where can you lead? I believe that leadership is not a single innate ability one has or has not. Leadership is a skill that is developed and honed as a combination of many abilities. First you have to figure out to where or for what you want to be a leader. It is then just a matter of knowing it in your head and moving those thoughts, images and feelings into your heart. Once in your heart, you will be on auto-pilot and nothing will stand in your way.

     So, where is it that you want to go, or, what is it that you want to have? What do you want to say about you? I always thought this was the easy part; answering the question of what I want. But, as I've grown older, experienced more, read more, been mentored and actually taken the time to notice, I've found things other than those I had been focusing upon. I had focused on those things that others thought I should do. I was taking the safe road. It was easy to play the odds. When faced with choices, I weighed things based upon what put me into a stronger position. Things like versatility and breadth of experiences measured higher. It was a matter of not being objectionable, rather than being favorable to me. I've found it is more work to move these goals into my heart. Sometimes it's more risky to go with what you really want. But, that is what makes their achievement all the more rewarding.

     What do they say about you? What do you say about you? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Most of the time we shouldn't care what other people have to say. We want to be popular and accepted, but when it comes to achieving what we want, we want to consider what the mirror and other people say or think about our strengths and weaknesses. When you've identified those people who have the position of rendering an accurate and qualified analysis for you, which in and of itself may be ranked as one of our strengths or weaknesses, you have to exercise that analysis. Once we use these resources successfully, we can use our strengths with skillful precision, build up habits that help to strengthen our weaknesses, or, in the end, realize we shouldn't be doing this alone anyway, and leverage those in our mastermind group who are strong in those areas.

     Moving a single step in the right direction, is one further than someone else has taken. You are then qualified to lead something to and through that step. You then just move one more. And, repeat the process of leading someone else to and through that step. Before you know it, there will be a very long line of steps you have mastered and lead someone to them and through them.
Where can you lead? I believe that leadership is not a single innate ability one has or has not. Leadership is a set of skills that are developed and honed as a combination of many abilities. You don't have to have all of these abilities yourself. In fact it puts you in the best position if you have a mastermind team working with you. First you have to figure out to where or for what you are able to lead. The single goal. It is then just a matter of reinforcing that knowledge in your head and moving those thoughts, images and feelings of that goal into your heart. The more senses you devote to this task, the easier and more installed in your heart it will become. Once in your heart, you will be on auto-pilot and nothing will stand in your way.

MLM Secret - Your WHY - What is a "why", anyway?

Most everyone who is a successful leader in Multi-level Marketing sights their number one secret as having a "why". This is a very important concept and could be discussed at quite a great length, but I'm only going to touch upon a few characteristics, as I've come to understand them. The important thing is to understand what it is, what it isn't, and what it accomplishes in your business.

Your "why" is about you. It's your "why", isn't it? It's not for anyone else. Your "why" could be involving something you want to share with or give to someone else. But, it is still you providing it to them. Perhaps you have a job. It may pay well and even be fun. But you aspire to having more than it can provide. Or, if you are out of work, and trying to evaluate how to contribute so you can not only be compensated for your efforts, but that you can also achieve fulfillment. Things like more free time, more money, providing a lasting legacy for your family, even having a greater ability for generosity or philanthropy, or simply helping others help others achieve their "why"s are all possible items in your "why". It is the reason. It is your self-realized purpose.

Listing your goals, although these are important, are not your "why". Having to keep them written down on a file card, in your coat pocket, may be a good start, but it cannot stop there. Your "why" cannot be formulated or contrived. It has to begin with thought. It then has to be connected to strong emotion. Ultimately it has to reside in your heart. It has to be part of your deep down being. It has to be an integral part of your self.

It serves as the down-in-your-soul reason for defying gravity. You know, that force that tells you every morning to stay horizontal, in your nice warm, comfy bed. It provides the energy and motivation you need to cheerfully face the new day. "Today I am going to make more inroads on the path to achieving my why", you can self-assert.

It is important that you fully understand this MLM secret. It provides the focus to keep you on track with your philosophical foundation for all of your goals. This is important, not only for your business in particular, but it could also provide focus for your life as a whole. It is fundamental in avoiding distractions, in this world of ours, where appeals are being made, of our thoughts, constantly, but for the objectives of others. It is also crucial to walking through the obstacles and downright heart-ache that life can throw at us all. The best leadership model involves service to others, but you have to be satiated yourself, first, and serve the universe with the abundance that overflows your cup. This can only be accomplished, long term, and with lasting impact, if you have a "why".

Wait a minute, you can do that tomorrow, can't you?

The mastery of procrastination

Organized planning

I've heard it said many times, if you enjoy what you're doing, you'll never work a day in your life. As many, many, many people take a day and recognize some event, like TGIF, the weekend, or even a holiday, they are possibly giving up a little bit of their plan. I'm not saying that I don't coordinate my activities with others. I do make plans together, so we can accommodate each others schedules and desires. But I live my life like everyday is a special event. I weave all of the positive emotions throughout my day as much as I possibly can. And, the sweetest times are those spent helping others do the same, and, greatest yet, when theirs is much greater than mine. Oh what a lift it is to feel their joy!

But. I have to have a plan.

My Daily To-Do List = ordered list of have-to-do's (just for example):

1. self-talk,
2. write lesson plan,
3. self-talk,
4. call prospect

• .
• :
• - one habit-making or habit-breaking exercise.
• .
• :
• - eat (ok, those sounds I've been hearing should be quieted, I think)
• .
• :
• - sleep (or am I sleep-walking again? maybe I should have had food earlier than I did, so I'd have more non-adrenalin energy?)
• .
• :
• - breath (yeah, sometimes I actually have to think about this one - it helps me relax, when I take a couple of deep breaths)
• .
• :
• - etc

I try to "Manage yesterday's decisions daily". I'm "all in", so this is a quick process:

1. on track,
2. not-so-much

• Easy, #1. on track.

But, if I stop too long to evaluate the situation, I need to go back and assess my why.

Distractions - see habit-making / habit-breaking (ok, so this habit-making / habit-breaking list is wa-a-ay too long, already; I'll just have to settle for being perfect, just the way I am, and move on, now)

OK, life happens. You just have to "... pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again ..." Everything happens for a reason. Next.

Multi-tasking - who are we kidding? I can only, really, do just one thing at a time. FOCUS!

If the radio station in MY mind is tuned to the "you suck" channel, _I_ have to recognize this NOW! _I_ have control over the ONLY dial. _I_ can switch it to the "you rock" channel. NOW!!

I have already layed-out the organized plan. There is no time to put anything off until later, or tomorrow. I am counting on me. People are counting on me. The world is counting on US.

My desires are DESIRES. They're not fanciful or unimportant wisps of thought. I already have them fulfilled, in my mind, and I WILL have them in my hand and the hands of those that I love.

in gratitude and service,
Tony Koker

What is holding you back?

Image: http://www.canstockphoto.com

It was just after the Coaches Corner Mastermind call when I got paged for my job. Yeah, it was around 1 am on Sunday morning and I got paged. Some equipment set off a bunch of alarms and they called me to diagnose this issue so they could engage the proper people or vendor to fix it. Luckily I can do this from my setup at home, without having to travel into anywhere. Anyway, it was the state of mind I recognized, only in hindsight of answering the page that was my epiphany.

I had been frustrated, again, another weekend going by, and little by slow was too slow ... maybe I'm still stuck with a fear of lack? Am I afraid I'm not ready? Is there something I didn't do, yet? Is this exceptionally snowy winter giving me another excuse to not succeed? I keep putting together plans and steps, but I end up with 50 tasks. all moving slowly forward, but nothing done. Or, at least, nothing that seems to be working. Maybe I'm not saying my self-talk enough? Maybe I lack the conviction I need to make it work? Analysis paralysis again? Why do I let these simple steps pile into a mess that overwhelms me?

When I answered the page, everything changed. I was in my element. I was performing tasks I'd trained years and years to master. No hesitation. No doubts. I knew right where to go, which system(s) to check, and which things to do. It wasn't that I knew what was wrong in an instant, but the logic I followed was solid and well traveled. I had used this stuff, over and over again, and knew exactly what to expect. I knew what connects to what, what fails or doesn't, but mostly, how to interpret the often cryptic messages and reports. I was in the zone. I knew that I knew that I knew. Even if I didn't know something with exacting detail, I knew to be comfortable in the knowledge that I could figure it out. I knew the missing pieces would present themselves to me. There was no fear, no worry, just confidence and faith.

The weekend is over now, but I am now equipped with a tool. A tool that I already had at my disposal, but which can now be applied to the task I now desire.

MLM lessons

MLM lessons learned the hard way. First-hand, hard-nosed and stubborn, we let our emotions rule our decision-making, instead of our head. Short-cuts offered for free.

Most of us involved in Network or Multi-Level-Marketing (MLM) got swept up in the emotion-invoking hype of the presentation. We became excited and explored the possibilities of a dream lifestyle. We reacquainted ourselves with our inner child, again. Hopeful and enthusiastic, we followed the instructions of those leading us. The people that invited us to the presentation showed us that they were following in the footsteps of those who had come before them and had been successful. It worked for them, so, if we duplicate the process they used, that promise stokes the fire of the excitement that we too can be successful.

But is hasn't exactly worked out that way. Our dream is still there, but it remains elusive, and somehow out of reach of any reasonable tomorrow.

We think. "What is wrong with me"? They are not really any different than me. Why have I not had the success they have had? Why do they tell me that my dream isn't big enough?

Maybe the problem isn't with me after all?

Is the problem with them? Maybe, they are good at presenting and instructing us on their system, but they don't really understand how it really works? They know the steps. Like any song or rhyme we like, we learn it and are able to act like parrots, repeating it endlessly, over and over again.

But we didn't learn why. Maybe, somewhere in between all of the hype, facts and figures, there was the answer? No one was there to point it out to us.

Whose fault is that? We took ownership when we thought it was something that was wrong with us. Is it just easier to think that there is something wrong with us, that cannot be fixed and is beyond our control, so it is then okay?

If the problem is with them, then we don't have ownership of it either.

The problem is that we need to take ownership. It's not our fault. We are perfect, just the way we are.

We need to ask why, again. We need to find the person who can answer the question. We need to stop accepting that the situation is out of our control, and take action.

We get nothing for nothing. We have to invest whatever resources we have at our disposal.

Two assets we all have, that are priceless. They have a value that is beyond any measure. Our time and our thoughts are our most valuable assets. We need to take back control.

After having struggled for many years in the promise of others' direction and control, I became involved with a group of people who are not only genuinely interested in pursuing this idea of personal control and accountability, but they are actively helping others do the same.

If you are interested in learning more about this group, please don't hesitate to contact me, or, visit my web site, and explore the links.

Your servant,

Tony Koker

"Success in 10 Steps" can be found on our web site: http://tkoker.successin10steps.com??mad=37428

MLM mistakes

Are mistakes bad? Are mistakes equivalent to failures? Certainly success will not be realized if all we experience is failures. If we are afraid of making mistakes, or having failures, and we don't act, then that too will prevent us from achieving success. Can we do it alone? Or, do we need help? If we share the thoughts, ideas and experiences of others, especially share with those who have achieved some greater level of success than we have, and, they are willing to explain why and show us how, then together we can all improve.

MLM mistakes are especially heart-felt, since we've rekindled our desires and excitement for a better lifestyle. We don't want to make mistakes and ruin our chance.

Maybe, deep down inside, somewhere, we feel we don't really deserve success. Do we inadvertently find important things to do, like organizing that stack of old junk-mail, or email in box, or just one more text message, instead of focusing on the tasks we should be doing, but that somehow scare us?

Are we letting our emotions do the driving, instead of our thoughts? Shouldn't we be thinking things through, at least a little bit, and forming a plan of action, first? Our task would then be clear. We just need to work the next step in our plan.

Do emotions still get in our way? Yes they do. How do we feel? Why do we feel this way? What is causing us to have these emotions? Was it something we just heard on TV? Did someone just cut us off on the road? Are we trying to get too much done, in too short a period of time?

Olympic champions practice for hours and hours every day. Do you think they practice a mistake they've made? Or, do they find a way to slowly, carefully and progressive make corrections and adjust?

We all have only 24 hours in a day. And, in the day we have, only so many moments to make decisions, and takes those steps of action. The more deliberate and focused we are, the more sure-footed we will be.

But, we cannot do it alone. We will imitate a dog, chasing it's tail. We need an outside anchor, friend and mentor. Better yet, a group of differing personalities, openly and honestly sharing with one another.

I am ecstatic that I have found such a group. We bare our soles, without being judged. We strive for self-discovery through mutual brain-storming sessions, seeking those subtle, yet awe-inspiring "AHA!" moments. We experience joy and laughter, tears, goosebumps and chills down our spines.

Please join us, so that together we can be even more.

Your faithful servant,

Tony Koker

Mentoring for Free link can be found on this site: http://http://tkoker.mentoringforfree.com/?mad=37501

Thoughts a second and negative emotions

How many thoughts a second do you think we have? When we are excited, perhaps we have hundreds of thoughts a second. When we are calm does it slow down to three or four? Do these thoughts contribute to a decision right now? Do we have to choose right now? Can we wait?

Black-and-white, and clear-cut, undeniable choices, or are some not so concrete, and more of a grey-area ilk?

How do we feel about all of that? Is this even separate from the process? Are not our feelings the seasoning that makes our thoughts less than black-and-white?

Are our most memorable thoughts and events those that are associated with the most intense emotions?

What about the more mundane, day-to-day challenge - are we deciding based upon positive feelings, and goal-oriented outcomes? How do we evaluate if this little, single thought, and decision is even pointed in the correct direction?

Did we sit down, previously, and make a to-do list? Did we anticipate all possible thoughts we would have today? Or, are we stuck in analysis paralysis?

If we use our emotions as a guide, can we wade through even the most thought-filled second and accept and reject the correct thoughts?

The positive emotions, if used in this way, can at least leverage our experience and favor better outcomes:

Desire, faith, love, sex, enthusiasm, romance, and hope (also, maybe, prosperity and gratitiude).

The negative emotions:

Fear, jealousy, hatred, revenge, greed, superstition, and anger (also maybe lack).

The negative emotions seem to help us avoid punishments or loss.

The positive emotions seem to reinforce rewards.

The negative emotions, should first be identified, then rejected, or, overpowered with some anchor we've built in our tool-belt, based on one or more positive emotions.

Your faithful servant.

Economic Recovery - Act NOW

Everyone, the world over, has been effected by the current economic conditions. Most people have scrambled for a good position. It's just like a unpredicted storm has hit. And, although we all have that in common, that's where it ends. Even the position we've established, or are attempting to establish is different. First we do a quick damage assessment. We all wonder why none (or few) of our boarded-up windows survived; even when we thought the storm was over, another wave of fury attacked - and no one is really sure it's over, even now.
Once we finished (maybe just our first of many) damage assessments, we then chose our next stance - do we hunker down for the next wave? Or, what? Are we so battle-weary? Not only are we attacked by news we intentionally hear, watch, or read, the attacks are also insidious - they sneak through commercials wrapped around everything from our coffee cups to our recreation; an unrelenting bombardment of snippets of sound, pictures, words and ideas. They are all trying to rent space in our head - slowly eroding any sense of control, we thought we had.
But, we don't have to abrogate our authority to them. We don't have to willingly submit to the beating; to give up the power, they're actually afraid of. We are not as weak as they'd like us to think we are. We're not perfect, by any means, but we're okay, just the way we are. We have to gain strength, not acquiesce and give it away. We have to build ourselves up, individually, and, as a team.
We have to build our own master-mind alliance; a team of like-minded thinkers and doers. Knowledge of this is just the first step. Knowledge is NOT power, but the action, put into play, through the use of that knowledge - THAT is where the power is!
We cannot hunker down, any longer. We have to stand up. We have to stand together, shoulder to shoulder, hands joined together. We need to silence the lies. We need to turn down the noise level. We have to take action: 30-day Mental-Cleanse link sent upon request.

Pique through freedom illustration and picture-words

A picture is worth a thousands words. Most of us have heard that before. An interesting take on this concept, however, is that it doesn't necessarily take a thousand words to describe a picture.
Contained within the many wonders in this world of ours are the seasons. We all can relate to the weather, and, ultimately derive it from the current season, for the most part. Living in New England, however, we have become accustomed to frequent, perhaps even non-seasonal weather changes. This year we seemed to suffer from a perpetual cool and rainy spring. Not cold, but not really warm either. A darkness that seems to evoke gloom and hunkering down is present. Sounds, of rain drops in a pitter-pat in puddles, of splashing foot-steps, as people want on their way, of cars seemingly surfing on stream-like waterways, with their wheel-splash glide and then of cascading waves of whoosh and crash of foaming walls of water all permit us to hear the effects of the rain, we also feel and see. A natural cleansing cycle, where dirt and grime are actually washed away. An chance in contrast without equal to observe the brightness inside. The light of our inner self, keeping us on course and cheerful. Casting off the gloom, we can also embrace this as a refreshing change; a chance to enjoy the shower (To join our Master Mind and experience a life-changing process, start your own 30-Day Cleanse. You need it more than you need oxygen. The only cost is your commitment to yourself. You’ll get a download of the unabridged “Think and Grow Rich”. To get started, first download your free copy of Michael Dlouhy’s “Success In Ten Steps” by clicking HERE. I will send you the link to get started with your mental cleanse.).
This picture-painting, with words, is one way we can present the freedom opportunity that network marketing represents to those we meet and interact with; welcoming them to join us in our success journey, ever growing our numbers, and spreading all the positive emotions, leading us to accomplish.

A note to anyone who's considered MLM ...

I've been doing MLM for about 25 years, but it had never become more than a resource sink, until recently. It's very easy to spend your money on tools, or leads or products, or to spend countless hours (really your MOST VALUABLE ASSET) and go nowhere.
It certainly is NOT get rich quick, even for the super stars, who tend to have bursts, then lulls of growth. It is, certainly, about hard work, and a good (healthy) work ethic.
I think the secret is NOT about companies OR products, but about PEOPLE.
Building a spider-web of real contacts is the key, and, the current explosion in social networking, and how traditional marketers are trying to target it is just one piece of evidence.
Having part of your spider-web contain a mastermind mentoring group, where you can balance your primary personality against others, complimenting your effectiveness is crucial.
Download Michael Dlouhy's (my mentor and very successful MLM'er) FREE ebook, that discusses MLM in general from here http://tkoker.successin10steps.com, and the 10 hours of additional training that is made available for FREE (audio, live phone calls, eBooks, too), I can provide (all free, no strings at all), if you're interested.
This is really free, no spam, no hidden agenda, no companies or products, just heart-felt mentoring.

Specialized Knowledge

Re-reading Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich", "Chapter 5 - Specialized Knowledge (personal experiences or observations)" puts a floodlight on an area in my recent personal development, allowing me to see with great clarity and focus a major course correction that was needed in my life. I am a practising Computer Systems Engineer. So, clearly, having a specialized knowledge of technology is required. And, although I have had a reasonably successful journey, somewhere along the way I succumbed to a narrow focus on the knowledge and lost sight of the bigger picture. I had allowed my mind to become distracted and stimulated physically (stimulants, yes, like coffee and alcohol) and through events, rather than the ideas that set me on the path in the first place. I had stopped dreaming. I had stopped focusing on the goal. I stopped to savour the accomplishment, but forgot it was supposed to be just one more piece in the puzzle. I had unwittingly traded a position, part of a building master mind group, and instead had become swallowed up as someone else's staff employee.
With wide open eyes (mindful thoughts, renewed desire, faith and a resurrected auto-suggestion habit-building), I am moving again on a path with even greater goals. I have found that we each have our own abilities, strengths and weaknesses. I'm piecing the puzzle together again, finding additional sources for specialized knowledge for which I lack, staying mindful that together we will be rebuilt. We will accomplish goals we have yet to even conceive. The clouds are evaporating from the sky, the sun is shining bright and our convoy is picking up speed.

With Enthusiasm and Gratitude

Auto-suggestion

Since I was very young, I recall visualizing thoughts being planted, like seeds thrown over a wall to the other side. To complete the picture, however, I also experienced thoughts being returned, more like a tennis ball, over a net. Unlike tennis, however, the balls sent over the net (to the subconscious), don't come back, for a time, but seem to allow many more to be sent over, before a new creation is returned. It's not clear that these pictures were entirely about the subconscious, but may actually have been influenced by Infinite Intelligence as well. I also discovered that thoughts planted at night and first thing in the morning, somehow, had more significance. Similarly, those planted, at the end of focused activity, like work on Friday, may lie buried, until dug up, with effort, at the resumption of the activity, like work on Monday. Often my weekends were spent, free from cares, dedicated to anything but work; the rest and refreshment we all need, but rather than being balanced throughout, were binged and squandered.
As I evolved, I found myself desiring a better continuity, from the Friday burial, to the Monday rediscovery, and that forced me to become more of a workaholic, focused on the next thing, over-scheduled, overworked, and under-refreshed. Pride heralded "super man!", but the tangle was building, becoming a strangling weight. It then took greater effort to find ways to rest and refresh.
At each different stage, I found myself planting specific thoughts, but, in retrospect, find that I neglected the weeding. My garden became overgrown, and an under-brush of tangled wannabe trees strangled by all manner of undesirable growth.
I ended up in a mode of auto-pilot; doing what had to be done, rationalizing detours of flight as needed breaks.
Then a wake up call. I slid my car, on black (clear roadway) ice, into a telephone pole. Thankfully I was the only one in the car. I awoke to find myself in the hospital, for the next 30 days, and then, for 7 more months, at home, recovering. This forced me to spend time with myself, like I had never found the time to do before. I began a self-guided mental-cleanse then, but the overgrowth was too deep and tangled. I found myself back on the wheel once more.
Another wake up call. Slowly being strangled by an out of control addiction, headed for certain death, I was again shaken awake. This time, with outside help and guidance, I slowly began actually clearing the unwanted growths in my garden. Calling out to the Infinite Intelligence, I was able to focus on those things I am grateful for in my life. This became my first daily auto-suggestion list. This list has also evolved, over time, but remains the foundation of the garden-clearing upon which the tallest, strongest and forever expanding new growth flourishes.