Posted by Brian Tracy on Feb 28, 2007
‘extreme hiking’
Last October, while I was training to climb Mt. Whitney (14,495 ft) I made a 10-hour hike up and down Mt. Gorgonio in the San Bernardino National Forest.
This was my eighth full day of hiking to get my legs in shape for the 15-hour hike up Whitney, 22 miles there and back, starting at 5:00 am and getting back to the car at about 9:00 pm, in the dark.
On this last training hike, something went wrong with my ankles. They became so sore and painful during the last two or three hours that, by the time I got back to the car, I was using my hiking poles as crutches and taking baby steps.
For the next three months, I treated my ankles in every conceivable way. I bathed them in hot and cold water. I got massages and electro-pulse therapy. I visited Chinese, Japanese and Thai specialists to carry out special, deep massage exercises to alleviate the pain and discomfort.
While I was traveling and speaking, I purchased special bandages and lace-up supports to enable me to limp from place to place. I tried every vitamin, mineral and non-traditional method of medicine possible and yet my ankles continued to be excruciatingly painful. Finally, I called an Orthopedic Surgeon, a "Bone Doctor," and went to see him. I told him that I thought that I had a hairline fracture that was causing me incredible pain, and stopping me from recuperating.
Without examining me, he said, "I doubt it; let’s take an X-ray and see what’s really going on."
A few minutes later, with the X-ray in hand, he said, "Here it is! You’ve got arthritis in your ankles and you now have bone on bone because of the wearing away of cartilage during your ‘extreme hiking’ trips through the mountains. What you need is a shot of Cortisone."
He gave me a simple shot of Cortisone into my ankle. By the time I got back to my car, I already felt better. By the next day the pain that had been almost unbearable for three months was 90% gone. It still is.
Today, in the newspapers, they have announced the results of more than 250 separate institutions and 246,000 documented studies on people taking various vitamin supplements, antioxidants and other formulations. Their conclusion: "They don’t work." They bring about no noticeable benefit. In fact, taking too many vitamin, mineral, Omega-3, Selenium and antioxidant supplements may shorten a person’s life.
What I’ve learned from this experience with the Orthopedist is that our medical system, and the doctors who work in it, are the best in the world. Before you seek out any kind of unconventional, non-traditional, "highly recommended," formulation or treatment, visit your doctor. He or she has probably seen your situation 100 or 1,000 times and can give you a quick, effective remedy that works almost immediately.
Remember, your job is to live a long, long, healthy, happy, vigorous, fit and energetic life. Our medical system is set up and designed to help you to achieve that goal. Take full advantage of it the next time you have an ache or a pain, and before you try anything else.
I’ll talk to you again soon.
Tags: Brian's Words of Wisdom
Posted by Brian Tracy on Feb 20, 2007
What is it that you would like to do or be or have more than anything else in the world?
The author Henry Ward Beecher once wrote that "The first hour is the rudder of the day."
It is called the "Golden Hour," and what you put into your mind first thing sets the tone for the rest of the day.
Each morning, I get up and exercise for a while, stretching my muscles, especially my back, and getting my blood flowing. Then I sit down with a cup of coffee and read something spiritual and enlightening.
It is a form of "psychic breakfast" that gives me food for thought and contemplation.
This morning, I was reading Emmet Fox’s essay on your "Heart’s Desire." It says that you are put here on earth to do something wonderful with your life, something that only you can do.
You are unique in all the world. There never has been, and never will be another person just like you. You come into the world with "secret orders," with special talents and abilities that you can use to achieve any goal you really want.
So here is the big question: "What is your ‘heart’s’ desire?"
What is it that you would like to do or be or have more than anything else in the world?
And here is the neat part. Whatever it is, if you are absolutely clear about it, and you really want it long enough and hard enough, you probably have the ability to achieve, or the ability to attract into your life the people, resources and ideas you need to make it a reality.
Your great responsibility, to yourself and the world, is to determine your heart’s desire, and then commit yourself wholeheartedly to making it come true.
Tags: Brian's Words of Wisdom
Posted by Brian Tracy on Feb 14, 2007
You become what you think about most of the time.
It was Aristotle who wrote, "Try not to be so much a man of wealth, but a man of character."
It never fails to amaze me how good and honorable most people are.
You read continually about crime and dishonesty, lying and stealing, but I think about 95% of people are genuinely good at heart. It is the bad apples who get all the press and notoriety.
Someone wrote me an email last week about the movie "The Secret" and said that viewing it had changed his life.
Wow! In my 1990 book "Maximum Achievement," Chapter One, I explained the seven basic mental laws, including the "Law of Attraction," in some detail. "The Secret" says that this law has been hidden for centuries and only a small number of people know about it.
What I wrote back was that, of course, "The Law of Attraction," or "The Strangest Secret" that Earl Nightingale recorded in 1955, are true. You do become what you think about most of the time.
But this is not enough. What is even more important is that you accept 100% responsibility for your life, everything you are, and everything you will ever be.
Only then do you set goals, make plans, learn what you need to know to succeed, and work – hard, hard, hard – for a long time to get the things you want.
This is the height of personal honesty – to accept complete responsibility for being a person of character – and then being willing to pay the full price of success, in advance.
Yes, you must think positive thoughts, and visualize your goals as a reality, and then – get to work.
I trust you are making continuous progress on your own personal road to success.
Tags: Brian's Words of Wisdom
Posted by Brian Tracy on Feb 9, 2007
It takes drive, discipline and determination for you to compete and win in our economy.
Last week, I drove out to Indio, about 150 miles northeast of San Diego, to watch my daughter, Catherine, compete in a horse show.
When Catherine was nine, she announced that she wanted to “ride horses.” We dutifully got her a couple of pony rides at a local barn. But that was not what she had in mind. She really wanted to learn to ride.
Flash forward six years. Catherine is now 15, and an accomplished equestrian, on both “hunters” and “jumpers.” She owns three horses and competes in “A” shows with some of the best riders in the country, and wins walls full of ribbons.
Her discipline is amazing. All by herself, she is up and ready to go as early as 6:00 am. She rides each horse several hours per week, walks them for exercise, and takes advanced lessons from two world champion riders.
The point of this story is that you can be competent, confident and successful in sales, entrepreneurship, or any other field if you are willing to put in the long hours of study and practice you need to “win ribbons.”
It takes drive, discipline and determination for you to compete and win in our economy. No one is going to give you anything. You will have to work harder than the others to get ahead.
The good news is that everyone starts at the beginning. No one is smarter or better than you. The only question you have to answer is, “How badly do you want it?”
Tags: Brian's Words of Wisdom
Posted by Brian Tracy on Feb 6, 2007
More people are living longer and better, and making more money than ever before.
The communications expert once remarked, "I don’t know who discovered water but I can be sure of one thing. It wasn’t a fish!"
What he was saying was that when we are surrounded or immersed in something, we don’t notice it at all.
Today, we are living in the "Golden Age," the wealthiest time in all of human history. More people are living longer and better, and making more money than ever before.
Since 2003, following the Bush tax cuts, the U.S. economy has grown in value by $30 trillion dollars, more than all of China. The stock market is at an all-time high.
And here’s the best news: 99% of all the entrepreneurs, scientists, technicians and smart people who have ever lived are living and working today, thinking up new products, services and ways for more people to make more money.
Your job is to participate fully in this world of opportunity. Your job is to set big goals and then make them come true.
Especially, your job is to learn the vital skills of business, sales and leadership that you need to double and triple your income in the months and years ahead.
My personal job is to make sure you have the tools you need for success.
May 2007 be your best year ever!
Tags: Brian's Words of Wisdom
Posted by Brian Tracy on Feb 5, 2007
Highly creative people tend to have fluid, flexible, adaptive minds. Here are three statements that creative people can make easily and which you learn by regular practice.
Admit It When You Are Wrong
The first is simply, "I was wrong." Many people are so concerned with being right that all their mental energy is consumed by stonewalling, bluffing, blaming and denying. If you’re wrong, admit it and get on to the solution or the next step.
Face Up to Mistakes
Second, non-creative people think that it is a sign of weakness to say, "I made a mistake." On the contrary, it is actually a sign of mental maturity, personal strength and individual character. Remember, everybody makes mistakes every single day.
Be Flexible With New Information
The third statement that creative people use easily is, "I changed my mind." It is amazing how many uncomfortable situations people get into and stay in because they are unwilling or afraid to admit that they’ve changed their minds.
Be Willing to Cut Your Losses
If you get new information or if you find that you feel differently about a previous decision, accept that you have changed your mind and don’t let anyone or anything back you into a corner. If a decision does not serve your best interests as you see them now, have the ego-strength and the courage to "cut your losses," to change your mind and then get on to better things.
Action Exercises
Here are two ways you can break out of narrow thinking patterns and become more creative.
First, be willing to admit that you are not perfect, you make mistakes, you are wrong on a regular basis. This is a mark of intelligence and courage.
Second, with new information, be willing to change your mind. Most of what you know about your business today will change completely in the coming years so be the first to recognize it.
Click here for more information on The Creative Manager.
Tags: Leadership Success
Posted by Brian Tracy on Feb 3, 2007
In Brian’s Weekly Words of Wisdom Blog you will get weekly business and personal tips and insights
Hi Everyone,
In my weekly words of wisdom blog is will be sharing business tips, insights and tactics that you can use everyday in your life. I will be sharing content in this weekly words of wisdom blog to help you become the best that you can be.
I look forward to sharing this valuable information with my readers.
All my best,
Brian Tracy
Tags: Brian's Words of Wisdom
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