Dear John Letter by Gary Ryan Blair

 

The genesis of "Dear John" letters can be traced to World War II.

 

They usually began, "Dear John, I have found someone else whom I think the world of. I think the only way out is for us to get a divorce."

 

These letters, which broke the hearts and dreams of our servicemen and women, soon became known as "Dear Johns."

 

I developed this lesson to provide a different type of "Dear John" letter.

 

It's a private note from your hopes and dreams, and it speaks loudly through your subconscious.

 

The purpose is to provide an outlet, a voice for all of those hopes, dreams, desires, and goals that you've neglected.

 

If your goals, hopes, and dreams could talk, what would they say about your performance?

 

Let's hope that they wouldn't write you the following letter, especially on 12/31/11.

 

Dear John, (insert your name here)

 

You probably already know what this letter is about. You've seen it coming; I know you have. It's about us, John. It's over. I'm leaving you!

 

I've hung on as long as I could. You've got to give me credit for that. I mean, the way you swept me off my feet and talked lovingly about the future we would have together.

 

I have waited so long for your embrace, your attention, and your love.

 

Why have you neglected me? Why have you made so many excuses?

 

Your inaction and addiction to procrastination is tearing me apart. I simply must move on!

 

For years, I would get so excited every time you talked about the business we were going to start, the places we were going to visit, and the home on the water where we could watch the sun set every night.

 

My heart would pitter-patter every time you talked about me to other people, only to be let down once again because you were afraid.

 

John, what are you afraid of?

 

It's only me! I am your hopes, dreams, and goals.

 

I wanted you as much as you wanted me, but you have left me no choice.

 

I simply must move on!

 

Please do not attempt to talk your way out of this.

 

The years of indecision and lack of discipline tell me everything I need to know. If you really-and I mean REALLY-wanted me, you would have found a way for us to be together.

 

I am tired of having my hopes soar so high just to just to see them dashed.

 

I simply must move on!

 

Time is marching by without us, and my greatest fear is suddenly becoming visible on the horizon.

 

I am so afraid that we could come to the end of our lifetime and never have the chance to really know one another. It breaks my heart to even entertain this thought, but I simply must move on!

 

Like the Genie that grants three wishes, I wanted to give you your heart's desire.

 

All I wanted, needed, and asked for was your attention, your devotion, and your willingness to work hard for me. If that was too much to ask for, then I'm sorry.

 

I simply must move on!

 

All things of value must be earned, and I've grown tired of your excuses and lack of patience.

 

On numerous occasions, I was within your grasp, but you quit too soon. Why did you leave me when you were so close?

 

I'll let you in on a little secret. Every day I would call out to you, "I am your goal, here I am, come and get me!"  I'm curious. Did you ever hear me?

 

I repeated this question day after day, month after month, and year after year.

 

But now, I've grown tired of hearing that the timing is not right, that you're tired, or that someday you'll get around to it.

 

It's now time that I get around to it myself and find someone who is committed, focused, and proactive.

 

I simply must move on!

 

On behalf of all of your hopes, dreams, and desires, there is something you should know about us.

 

We will never fail you, nor will we ever let you down.

 

The main reason why we have not embraced one another is that you have failed us by not taking action! Why?

 

Sincerely,

 

Your Goals, Hopes, and Dreams

 

 

 

Granted, we rarely get that kind of feedback when we slack off on our efforts to achieve. But almost all of us have heard that small voice calling to us, "I am your goal, here I am, come and get me!"

 

WORK IS REWARD NOT PUNISHMENT

Your success in any occupation depends on your enjoyment.

Loving your work makes the difference. If you enjoy what you do, you'll be successful.

If you don't enjoy what you do, you won't be successful.

Your chances for success are directly proportional to the degree of pleasure you derive from what you do.

If you have a job you hate, face the fact squarely and get out. You'll never achieve real success unless you like what you are doing.

Success in its highest and noblest form calls for peace of mind, enjoyment, and happiness which comes only when you find the work that you like best.

You don't pay the price for success. You enjoy the price for success.

Work is love made visible.

© 2010 YourDailyMotivation.com

ALL GREAT ACHIEVEMENT TAKES TIME

"Keep trying" is the rule that must be followed to be successful at anything.

Your success will always be connected with your actions. Just keep moving towards your goal.

You'll make mistakes but don't ever quit. You may even have to hang on after others have let go.

Persistence means taking pains to overcome every obstacle, to do all that's necessary to reach your goal. In the end, the only people who fail are those that do not try.

Your future is a big adventure. Just remember, all great achievement takes time.

© 2010 YourDailyMotivation.com

YOU CAN BE A WINNER IF YOU PLAN AHEAD

You gain the advantage in any situation through one medium: time

You can do things before they need to be done. You can position yourself ahead of time in the best place.

Think ahead of any approaching action. Make a plan and you will always have the advantage.

Let your advance worrying become advance thinking and planning. The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.

In life, as in chess, forethought wins.

© 2010 YourDailyMotivation.com

EVERY FAILURE IS A STEP CLOSER TO SUCCESS

People who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try to do nothing and succeed.

Experiencing failure is inevitable on your journey to be successful. Each defeat is merely an installment to victory.

You'll find that the number of times you succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times you fail and keep trying. You won't be judged by the number of times you fail, but by the number of times you succeed.

Failure is nothing but education, nothing but the first step to something better.

You can't be a winner and be afraid to lose.

© 2010 YourDailyMotivation.com

YOUR SUCCESS IS A MATTER OF EXPECTATION

You must first expect to succeed if you want to succeed.
When you expect good things to happen, strangely enough, they will happen.

Expectation energizes your goals and gives them momentum.

Your life will always respond to your outlook, so set your goals high.

The dreams you choose to believe in will come to be.

You can't expect to succeed beyond your wildest expectations unless you begin with some pretty wild expectations.

© 2010 YourDailyMotivation.com

IT'S NEVER OVER UNTIL IT'S OVER

The power to hold on in spite of everything, to endure, this is the quality of a winner. Your greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time you fail.

It's your constant and determined effort that will eventually break down all resistance and sweep away all the barriers before you.

Persistence means taking pains to overcome every obstacle, to do all that's necessary to reach your goal.

All great achievements require time. Endurance is the crowning quality of success.

© 2010 YourDailyMotivation.com

BE PREPARED WHEN OPPORTUNITY COMES

Luck is the time when preparation and opportunity meet. When you're prepared, your chance for success will come. You can change chance into good fortune if you're ready.

By the law of periodical repetition, everything which as happened once must happen again and again and again. Not capriciously, but at regular periods, and each thing in its own period, and each obeying its own law.

There is a tide in your affairs, when taken at the flood, that will lead you on to fortune. As events tend to repeat themselves, the tide of opportunity will come to you.

The only sure thing about luck is that it will change.

© 2010 YourDailyMotivation.com

The World's Best Productivity Strategy - Part TWO

Shared from the 100 Day Challenge and Gary Ryan Blair - no affiliate links,
just sharing a program I believe in
All the best,
Tina
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The World's Best Productivity Strategy - Part Two

In part one of this series, we discussed how "Saying No" is the world's
best, fastest and easiest productivity strategy, primarily because it
simplifies.

You will succeed on the basis of what, where and how you say "no". And
"Saying NO" allows you to get more control over your daily life and
activities--IMMEDIATELY!

For these remaining 100 days of the year, you must resolve to give "NO" the
strategic resolve it deserves!

The following are fifteen simple, effective and empowering strategies that
you can use to get results--IMMEDIATELY!

1. What strategies, initiatives and activities will you say "no" to?
There is great feeling, focus, empowerment, and impact when everyone agrees
on paper the activities that will not be done.
Pull out a piece of paper and list all of the superfluous activities that
can slow down, or prevent progress from happening altogether.
Everything is fair game and absolutely nothing is sacred in this exercise.
Simply put, if it does not advance you forward, then say no!

2. What meetings will you decline or delegate?
List every meeting you have in place for the remainder of the year and
determine which you will NOT be attending.
Meetings consume large chunks of productive time, most are run improperly
and inefficiently, and most can be declined or delegated to someone else.

3. What relationships will you not keep?
The way you manage your relationships has an enormous impact on your
ability to perform at consistently high levels.
Identify the top three energy-draining relationships, that you are committed
to saying "no" to for the next 100 days.
Then focus on creating strategies to free yourself from each of them.

4. What measurements will you ignore?
Say goodbye to all lagging indicators and ONLY pay attention to measurements
related to customer satisfaction and the levers that directly drive sales,
margin, operating expense and ROI.

5. What customers will you not target?
Identify your IDEAL prospect, client or customer and quit chasing every
opportunity as it's a complete waste of time and resources. Once identified,
you must then articulate who you will NOT target.
Finally, make decisions on segments of your customers that deserve "VIP"
treatment.

6. What competitors will you not follow?
Way too much time is lost by following and focusing on too many competitors
and so-called guru's. Identify the top three and immediately remove yourself
from all of the other email distribution lists, blogs and other related
communications.

7. What websites will you not visit?
Web sites are like magnets and vampires, as they draw you in and suck away
productive time. Pull up your list of favorites, delete most of them and
keep only the ones of greatest value. You must institute a "No Surfing"
policy and stick to it.

8. What money will you not spend?
Put yourself on a fiscal diet as every dollar spent should be thought of as
an investment towards greater operating income -- even petty cash. With this
in mind, what things, or even entire budget categories, will you not spend?

9. What trips will you not make?
It's hard to deny the power of 'showing up' in person as great things happen
when you show up and interact with customers and colleagues. Nonetheless,
trips consume massive gobs of time and money.
Therefore, consider how you can use technology to replace trips, and only
travel when it can make a big impact towards your primary goals.

10. What foods will you not eat?
Reaching the next level of performance and productivity begins with how you
manage energy. It's disturbing to see the immense amount of human and
corporate potential squandered due to the misuse of energy.
Unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise, negativity, sarcasm, unfocused
goals and strategies are all contributing factors to energy loss. Focus in
on your nutritional intake and exercise by eliminating any food, or drink
that compromises your energy levels.

11. What excuses will you not engage in?
Excuses drain energy, time, production and profits. Have a brutally honest
conversation with yourself and determine the excuses or behaviors that you
must do away with. I'm aware that it's easier said than done, but you will
NOT be able to achieve your true potential by fighting for and repeating
useless behavior.

12. What will you not say?
Develop the habit of saying NOTHING that does not move the 'agenda' forward
or uplift others. Speak ONLY of the solution, and waste not a second on the
problem or blame.
You will save a lot of time and mental energy which can be directed towards
more useful activities.

13. What thoughts will you not entertain?
Remember that which does not move you towards your goal, takes you away from
it. Therefore remove those thoughts that are limiting, defeating or
downright negative and consciously choose to replace them with thoughts of
abundance, optimism, and positivity. Don't tolerate negative thoughts or
conversations from yourself or others.

14. What television shows will you not view?
If there was ever a time hog that needed to be slaughtered, television tops
the list. In even a moderate TV-watching household, it's simply amazing how
many hours are spent in front of the box. The solution--go cold turkey!

15. What will you no longer tolerate from yourself or others?
Saying "no" and meaning it is the easiest word for setting a limit, holding
firm to boundaries, and being clear about what you will or will not do.
Identify the standards you wish to measure your life by and refuse to lower
or negotiate at any time, nor for any reason.

No is a tool Use the veto power of "No" regularly and with conviction as
it's a powerful strategic weapon that you can use to maximize your results
in the final 100 days of this year.

YES, YES, YES

Let's now focus on what you should say "yes" to. How does greater wealth,
health and happiness sound to you?

Say the word--yes, and give me the next 100 days and I'll turn you into an
unstoppable powerhouse!

Beginning September 22nd, I'm going to be releasing The 100 Day Finish
Strong Challenge at www.100DayChallenge.com

It's going to be a wild ride, and I'll be IN YOUR FACE every step of the way
for 100 straight days until I help you achieve every goal you want to
achieve!

Say the word--yes, and I'll teach you about commitment and absolute
accountability. I'll prove to you that you can deliver results that are in a
word--astounding.

There's no more goofing around... no more stalling, delaying, or "starting
on Monday". The train is leaving on September 22nd with or without you.
To get on the pre-registration list and to learn more about this exciting
program, please visit:
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=7CwUw&m=3idDziI6ywy4Ayj&b=QqT_ufwRpwW2ggfFxKMcLg


Everything Counts!

Gary Ryan Blair

P.S. Visit today and pick up your FRE*E Goal Setting Toolkit
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=7CwUw&m=3idDziI6ywy4Ayj&b=QqT_ufwRpwW2ggfFxKMcLg


You are welcome to pass this message along!

The World's Best Productivity Strategy - Part One

Shared from the 100 Day Challenge and Gary Ryan Blair - no affiliate links,
just sharing a program I believe in

All the best,
Tina
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: The World's Best Productivity Strategy - Part One

We are all staring down the barrel of the same reality--
the clock is ticking and no matter how you look at it,
we are approaching the home stretch of 2011.

You must consider the remaining 100 days of this year
as a now or never opportunity to finish the year strong,
to exceed expectations, and for some use it as a final
chance at redemption.

Let's cut right to the chase, by looking at the results of
your actions year to date, that REALITY tells you if you
have been successful or not in achieving the goals you
set earlier this year.

As it relates to your goals, your demonstrated actions
have allowed you to be in one of three positions.

You have either:

1. Exceeded your expectations of what you thought you
could achieve.

2. Met expectations of what you set out to accomplish.

3. Fallen below your desired expectations of what you
wanted to accomplish.

Unfortunately, in today's economy, far too many people
find themselves struggling and well below where they
would like to be.

The GOOD NEWS is that regardless of the position you are
currently in, you CAN finish the year strong, however you
must do a few things in the manner presented in the next
few paragraphs.

As someone who participates in or leads more than fifty
strategy sessions per year, I'm well aware that we all began
this year with great hope and determination.

I'm also well aware that many goals and plans fall far from
being realized.

THE SOLUTION

So what specifically can you do in order to capture the
brass ring? Work harder? Longer?

You don't stand a chance of succeeding with that strategy,
yet that is exactly what the majority of people will do.

Why not do something entirely different, why not focus on
saying NO!

Consisting of two letters and one syllable, the word "No"
can be considered to be one of the most powerful words
in your vocabulary.

It's the easiest word for setting a limit, holding firm to
boundaries, and being clear about what you will or will not
do. It is a word of pure power that is both inner and out
directed.

You will be a lot more productive once you recognize that:

1. "No" is not a dirty word, negative word, nor is it
a selfish word. Learning to say "No" is liberating as it
frees up your time to focus on your key priorities.

2. You are in complete control of how you spend your
time and your life. Saying "No" allows you more time and
energy to pursue your goals and wildest ambitions.

3. Saying, "No," increases the value of the things you
say, "Yes" to. Your success over the next 100 days requires
a short "Yes" list, and a long "No" list.

The key is an awareness and prioritization of your "Yes"
list, and firm boundaries around your "No" list as QUICKLY
as possible.

Saying "NO" is the most strategic decision you can make. You
improve yourself, your family, and your organization's
effectiveness--IMMEDIATELY!

"No" is empowering because it simplifies. You will succeed
on the basis of what, where and how you say "no". And "NO"
allows you to get more control over your daily life and
activities--IMMEDIATELY!

We need to say "NO", but we're not very good at it. In business
we give it another name. "prioritization" or "strategic planning.

But then we get back to day-to-day activities and we quickly
forget what we prioritized and planned. We end up letting the
"no's" creep back in.

For these remaining 100 days of the year, you must resolve to
give "NO" the strategic resolve it deserves and in the second
part of this post, I'll share FIFTEEN simple, effective and
empowering strategies (personal and professional) that you
can use to get results--IMMEDIATELY!

In the meantime, you are invited to pass this note along
to your friends and colleagues. Also, be sure to get your
FRE*E Goal Setting Toolkit by going to:
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=7CwUw&m=3kNqsWiTowy4Ayj&b=4E7epJEkstVImlUTX
Q7hjA

Everything Counts!

Gary Ryan Blair

P.S. Don't forget to pick up your FRE*E Goal Setting Toolkit
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=7CwUw&m=3kNqsWiTowy4Ayj&b=4E7epJEkstVImlUTX
Q7hjA

LOOK AT THINGS AS THEY CAN BE

Your range of available choices right now has no limits.
The only limits you have are in your mind.

You've got it in you to succeed. Just make up your mind and stick with it.

You weren't born with any limits on your powers or any set limits to your capacity.

At any moment, you have more possibilities than you can act upon.

Imagine your possibilities and your vision expands.
Capture your dreams in your mind and your life becomes full.

Reach out and touch the limits of your being in your mind.

If you think you can, you can.

© 2010 YourDailyMotivation.com

MASTER LIFE DON'T LET IT MASTER YOU

Some people are successful in mastering life, while others permit life to master them.

There is a split in you that is very clear. There is part of you that knows what you should do, and a part of you that does what it feels like doing.

Don't let passion drive you, let reason hold the reins.

Once you understand these opposing forces warring within you, with this knowledge of the truth: you no longer remain a slave. A clear understanding of this will make you the master of your life.

Resistance is your thoughts transformed into feelings.
Change the thoughts that create the resistance, and there is no more resistance.

Are you controlled by your thoughts or are you controlling your thoughts? If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self.

If you are ruled by your mind you are a king, if by your body, a slave.

© 2010 YourDailyMotivation.com

"Don't Put Off Till Tomorrow."

"Five more minutes," I screamed at my mother as she always tried to awaken
me from bed to go to school every morning.

It was a morning ritual. That "5 minutes" would inevitably turn into 10
minutes, which would then turn into 15, then . or, if one does not have a
"willing, gullible mother" there's always the clock radio with the ever
powerful snooze button. (Why do they have them anyway?)

It's a common habit for many, many people to always "push the snooze
button," or more simply put, "procrastinate." I guess I learned the hard way
that "procrastination is not the best way to do things and get them
accomplished."

In high school I was always "putting things off" or procrastinating. It did
not seem to matter, as I was always making great grades, but always pushing
it to the limits. If I had a huge final, it did not matter as, apparently,
"God would always watch out for me in high school" because I would always
(barely, but always) get the work done. That's how I "preferred" it (I
thought); I thought I was invincible; at least in regard to my
procrastinating ways.

That method of studying seemed to work well as a freshman in college also,
as well as the first semester of my sophomore year. I even procrastinated on
one of my first semester sophomore finals, not taking exams until after the
Christmas break. I did well and thought again: "Procrastination did not hurt
me at all." However, very soon I learned life was not so easy, as two weeks
after I took that "make up final" my entire life changed forever, as well as
my desire to procrastinate.

I was seriously injured, suffering a traumatic brain injury. Most physicians
and lay people did not believe I would survive, much less return to college,
much less be a functioning member of society ever again. It was not easy.

However, I have learned life is not supposed to be easy. Eighteen months
after almost losing my life and spending those months in painful therapy I
returned to college. Back at college I could now not "skip" my classes as I
previously had. My traumatic brain injury obligated me to work hard in order
to comprehend the material, and that meant attending all classes and
lectures.

However, after four years back at college I graduated at the top of my class
with many honors. Smiling and limping as I crossed the stage to accept my
diploma from the dean, I realized that all my painful and difficult work was
worth everything, as, again, I realized that "anything in life that's worth
doing, rarely comes easily." As I accepted the diploma from the dean I
chuckled inwardly as I asked myself, "What's procrastination?"

However, years later, I learned another lesson in regard to procrastination.

My family was going to my cousin's wedding in New York City in the late
1990s. Our hotel was directly across the street from the World Trade Towers.
I thought about climbing all the stairs to the top (for exercise; to set a
"goal"; and simply because I wanted to prove that I could do it). Looking
from my hotel room at one of the "Towers" I thought, "It's already getting
close to the time when we have to get ready for the wedding, plus, the
"Towers" will be there when I return on another trip."

Little could I ever imagine what would happen on September 11, 2001, and
that the Towers would NOT be there for a return trip.

Looking back, I realize what might happen when one "puts off for another
day" what he can do today. Sometimes the tomorrows never come about. One
should never put off until tomorrow what one can do today: climbing a
skyscraper, saying you love someone, visiting friends in a hospital. They
are all important. One never knows what the future holds in store for you.
That is why if you look in the dictionary you will find a definition as
"right now" for "present." No one knows what the future will be.

The present is a gift -- that is why it is called "present" -- it's a gift
to you -- remember that and live life accordingly.

C2009 by Michael Jordan Segal; all rights reserved

Michael Jordan Segal, who defied all odds after being shot in the head, is a
husband, father, social worker, freelance author (including a CD/Download of
12 stories, read with light backgroud music, entitled POSSIBLE), and
inspirational speaker, sharing his recipe for happiness, recovery and
success before conferences and businesses. To contact Mike or to order his
CD, please visit www.InspirationByMike.com and please take a moment to check
out his youtube video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNeRqpaoNpQ you
will be glad you did.

EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE TO BE SUCCESSFUL

People often handle life as they do bad weather. They while away the time waiting for it to stop. Yet the tide of opportunity comes to everyone.

Opportunity knocks all the time, but you've got to be ready for it. When your chance comes, you must have the equipment to take advantage of it.

The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, for time and chance happen to everyone. Take a second look at what appears to be someone's "good luck." You'll find not luck but preparation, planning and success-producing thinking.

When you're prepared for opportunity your chance for success is sure to come.

The season of failure is the best time for sowing the seeds of success.

© 2010 YourDailyMotivation.com

LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT

No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but you.

You must choose the thoughts and actions that will lead you on to success. You must set your own standards.

Nothing meaningful happens by itself. It will all come your way, once you understand that you have to make it come your way, by your own efforts.

Only you can hold yourself back, or stand in your own way.
Only you can help yourself.

Not in time, place or circumstances, but in you lies success.

© 2010 YourDailyMotivation.com

WHAT YOU SEE, IS WHAT YOU GET

Visualize what you want. See it, feel it, believe in it. Your mind is your mental workshop.

You can build anything you want in it. The beginning of your success is in your imagination.

Make your mental blue print and then begin construction.
See things as you would have them be instead of as they are.

Use your imagination to perceive your new reality even when it's not fully materialized. Remember, you must first clearly see a thing in your mind before you can do it or have it.

Your imagination will show you how to turn possibility into reality.

First think, then organize your thoughts into plans. Then transform your thoughts into reality by taking some positive action.

See the things you want as already yours. Think of them as yours, as belonging to you, as already in your possession.

Picture yourself as having already achieved your goal. Dreams and ideas can cross continents and oceans.
They go anywhere you can go.

What you see is what you get.


© 2010 YourDailyMotivation.com

TRUE SUCCESS DEPENDS ON YOUR ENJOYMENT

You'll never achieve real success unless you like what you're doing.

What you do is more important than how much money you make. How you feel about what you do is more important than what you do.

The more you love what you're doing, the more successful it will be for you. Don't set compensation as your goal.

Find the work you like and the compensation will follow.

You don't pay the price of success, you enjoy the price of success.


© 2010 YourDailyMotivation.com