Archive for August, 2007

Your Vision Is Your Fate

Sunday, August 19th, 2007

Yogi Berra said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Well, while it’s entertaining, that advice won’t do much for you.

So how do you know which way to turn when you come to a fork in the road of life?

 

Since that question could encompass such a wide range of challenges (or, better put, opportunities), it might seem too complex to find one simplified answer.

 

But I think there’s a way. In the hope that it will be useful for you, let me share with you what worked for me.

 

In 2003, with the landmark of my 40th birthday (yes, yes, I know it’s hard to believe) quickly approaching, it became painfully obvious to me in a moment of reflection that I was not living the life that was indicative or demonstrative of my true abilities and human potential.

 

I had come to a fork in the road of life. 

 

Ever been there before? Ouch!

 

Then – in July 2003 – I had what some would call a “defining moment.”

I call it “a matter of life or death.”   Not death in the literal sense, which probably would have actually been a lot less painful for me. The kind of death I’m referring to is the death of self-belief, self-trust, spirit and the will to win.

Here’s the truth: I was a recent newlywed. I had just sold one of my companies. I had gained an extra 30 pounds of carry-on luggage (also known as fat). On top of that, I found myself sharing success strategies with my audience, but I wasn’t implementing and applying them to my own personal and professional life.

I knew I had to make some major changes … FAST! I was sick and tired of being sick and tired … a lackluster father and husband … an unmotivated motivational speaker.  The last line may sound funny to you, but it was a sad truth for me.

 

I took a hard look at my life and saw the situation I just described. And that’s when I experienced an “A-Ha!” moment — a personal breakthrough.

The two key words are Look and Personal Breakthrough.

My vision had become the wrong vision. I saw only what I had become, not what I had the potential to be. I was living my nightmare, not my dream.

 

But I knew it didn’t have to be that way. I realized my fate, the rest of my life, was in my hands. 

That was my first clue. Somewhere, I got off course. I got “caught up” in a vision that was not meant to be my fate. 

  • I remembered using visualization techniques to create my future and manifest my destiny. I had stopped that behavior.
  • I remembered running on the boardwalk in Spring Lake, envisioning myself speaking in front of large audiences for high fees. I had stopped that behavior.
  • I remembered sitting in the chair in my home office every morning before going to the gym and envisioning myself having a powerful workout, looking strong, muscular and lean. I had stopped that behavior.
  • I remembered seeing myself on vacation in the Caribbean with my wife and kids having fun on the beach. I had stopped that behavior.

All of the things I taught and actually coached other people about in the areas of personal development and success had slipped away from me.

But then I got fired up!

 

When I looked at my life, I didn’t see myself 30 pounds overweight. I didn’t see myself struggling to be motivated. I didn’t see the self-imposed obstacles I created causing major challenges in every area in my life. 

What I saw was A Winner. I saw an energetic, healthy, father and husband. I saw a man full of boundless energy, pursuing and achieving his dreams while helping others realize theirs.  

 

As soon as I realized that my vision was what motivated me to take massive action which in turn created my future, my fate, I couldn’t sleep.

 

So, as the Fourth of July fireworks exploded in the warm, summer night air, my heart began to race because I knew I had the answer. I had a sort of Personal Independence Day Weekend.

 

On Monday, July 7, 2003 I started on an 84-day journey to transform my body and my mind, and win an International Fitness Challenge.

 

I knew that if I changed my body, my energy would be restored and even increase. From that position of energized strength I could change my mindset further. And I committed myself to doing all the things necessary to make this Vision my Fate.

 

I immediately began to apply techniques from a very important book I reread regularly, Psycho-Cybernetics by Dr. Maxwell Maltz.

 

I envisioned myself being lean and muscular. I envisioned myself training six days a week and becoming stronger everyday. I envisioned myself eating clean and healthy foods. I envisioned myself wearing designer suits and having a six-pack of ripped abs.

The outcome: I finished the Challenge 84 days later on September 28, 2003. By then I had lost 25 pounds. My body fat dropped from 18.5% to 8%. My waist size went from 38-inches to 33-inches. Then on January 28, 2004 at 6:00 PM, my wife said there was someone on the phone from Golden, Colorado. It was Porter Freeman, the director of The EAS/Body-for-Life Challenge. He told me that I was awarded 2nd runner-up in the 2003 Challenge.

 

I won cash, prizes and immediate international exposure for my hard work.  You can see the transformation pictures HERE.

But more important:  I won my life back. I won my self-confidence back. And I won my integrity back AND my self-esteem. I saw myself as a truly congruent person — someone who walks their talk and is 100% committed every moment to living to their fullest human potential, A Winner!

 

“Good for you, Eric,” you may be saying at this point. “But how can I get to that ‘A-Ha!’ moment and that level of commitment in my life?”

Here’s a first step: Another way of explaining what happened for me – and what can happen for you – is to realize what you focus on informs your belief. And we become very good at finding “evidence” and creating behaviors that support what we believe. Set your sights on a beneficial, realistic vision of what you want your life to be, and you’re well on your way to achieving it.

It’s true: Your Vision is Your Fate. And, as always, my promise to you is to help you realize your full human potential.

 

I believe in you! Do you believe in you?     

 

Eric Taylor
Chief Inspiration Officer
Empowerment Group International 

P.S.  Tomorrow night, Tuesday, August 21st @ 8pm, is the next (P.E.P.) Personal Empowerment Program FREE Tele-Seminar! We’re going to talk – in detail – about a key factor in establishing a winning vision of your destiny: Building an Unstoppable Belief System.

If you haven’t already emailed me back to register, just type PEP ME in the subject line and I will send you the access number and your pin code.

Here are some testimonials and feedback from July’s Tele-Seminar.

“I really enjoyed the Tele-Seminar tonight and I look forward to the upcoming calls. I’m interested in getting The Best Year Ever modules.”  – Sharon Simoncini – New Jersey

“Great job tonight.  I’m going to call to sign up for the program.  I’m looking forward to making changes in my life.”  – Kevin Noll – Pennsylvania

“Great call tonight!  I got a lot of new ideas and I’m excited about the program and next months call. Keep up the great work!” – Bruce Scott – Colorado

“Thanks for an energized and motivated phone call last night. Your energy definitely helps refocus me on what my goals are. I had to force myself to put paperwork aside and calm myself for bed because I am one of those early morning people too.” – Mary Jackson – New Jersey

“Eric, I just listened to the MP3 recording from last months PEP tele-seminar! It was AWESOME! I just signed-up for the call on the 21st! This is exactly the kind of motivation and guidance I need to take my career to the next level – Thank-you!  -Tara McNally – Florida

The next (P.E.P.) Tele-Seminar is tomorrow night, Tuesday, August 21st @ 8:00pm. You can reserve your place today by replying to this email and typing P.E.P. Me in the subject line. 

I look forward to meeting you on the call and helping you envision and create your successful future.

Make This Your Best Year Ever!

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Mental Plaque – add Mental Floss vs. Dental Floss for the hard to reach areas.

Sunday, August 12th, 2007

Your dentist probably told you the same thing she told me. “If you don’t brush your teeth at least twice a day to remove plaque on a regular basis, one of three things will eventually happen. You’ll get gingivitis … your teeth will decay, rot and fall out … or at the very least, your breath will be so repulsive you’ll eventually realize why you have no friends.” 

 

All three sounded like a bad outcome to me. So I decided that brushing my teeth was a good thing, and at a very young age, I changed my attitude about brushing my teeth.

 

You might be asking how this story applies to personal development and success.

 

Here’s how.

 

Only your best friend will tell you. Much like the plaque that builds up on your teeth causing them to rot and decay, Mental Plaque is building up in and on your mind. The kind of plaque I am referring to is negative thinking (often referred to as stinkin’ thinkin’). 

 

Know the warning signs of Mental Plaque: Like the sort-of invisible stuff that builds up on your teeth, Mental Plaque invades your life in a clandestine way as well. It often appears as negative self-talk, negative people, media messages in the form of radio, nightly news broadcasts and junk on the internet. The challenge is you often don’t realize it’s building up – or that you even have a head full of it – unless a caring friend tells you.

 

So I just did. And now I’ll tell you, like my caring dentist told me, how to get rid of Mental Plaque, forever.

 

Brush at least twice a day. Become a student of success. And make it a daily routine.

 

You brush your teeth everyday, don’t you? You probably take a shower and wash your hair every day. You may even exercise three days a week or more to stay healthy. Yet, so many people let Mental Plaque build up and fog their thinking by neglecting one of the most important assets: Your Mind!

 

Success habits are like hygiene habits. You should do them daily without thinking about it. When was the last time you went more than two days without brushing your teeth? Exactly! Success habits should naturally be a part of your daily activities. 

 

Here are 11 Success Habits to scrub away your Mental Plaque. And, if performed daily, prevent it from building up on your brain, forever:

 

  1. Wake up every morning with An Attitude of Gratitude and think about all of the things you have to be thankful for.
  2. Read a chapter from a personal development book every morning upon waking.
  3. Read a chapter from a personal development book every night before bedtime.
  4. Listen to a motivational or inspirational CD while driving your car.
  5. Listen to a personal development program on your iPod while you are exercising.
  6. Sign-up to have inspirational stories or quotes emailed to you everyday.
  7. Keep inspirational pictures and sayings on the walls in your home and office.
  8. Keep motivational reminders that inspire you next to your phone.
  9. Keep Post-It-Notes with your immediate goals where you can see them in your home, office and car. 
  10.  Invest 10 minutes out of every day to meditate or envision your future successes.
  11. Stay away from Energy Vampires. (See last FYI #67.)   

 

Success and a positive attitude don’t happen in a day. They happen day by day. Start off slowly. Read just one page a day from a book like Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, or The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale.

 

I recently spoke to Father Brian, my priest from my church. He shared with me, that he just started investing thirty minutes each night walking on the boardwalk. He said it has done wonders for his attitude, his energy and his mind. He also said, the fresh smell of salt air and the sounds of the ocean help clear his mind, and it allows him to pray without interruptions. Then he continued to say, that his walks help him remove all of the negativity he hears each day. Now remember, this is coming from a priest! Imagine how much junk Jerry Springer has to clear out of his mind every night!

 

I am certain that if you can spend ten minutes every day in the shower, you can invest ten minutes every day reading or listening to a positive, inspirational message. I challenge you to give it a try this week.

 

FYI Challenge: For the next 7 days read a page or chapter out of a motivational book.

 

NEED help? If you don’t know which book to choose, email me with the words READING LIST in the subject line and I will email you my recommended reading list. Type the words DAILY MESSAGE in the subject line and I will register you for the soon-to-be-released Eric Taylor‘s Motivational Minute – daily motivational messages delivered to your inbox starting this fall. If you want both just type in BOTH! Here’s the address: Eric@EmpowermentGroup.com.

 

P.S. As always, my promise to you, is to help you realize your full human potential.

I believe in you! Do you believe in you?    

 

   

 

P.P.S.  Speaking of motivational messages, the next (P.E.P.) Personal Empowerment Program FREE Tele-Seminar is scheduled for Tuesday, August 21st @ 8pm.

 

If you haven’t already emailed me back to register, just type PEP ME in the subject line and you will automatically be registered.

 

Here are some testimonials and feedback from July’s Tele-Seminar.

 

I really enjoyed the Tele-Seminar tonight and I look forward to the upcoming calls. I’m interested in getting The Best Year Ever modules.”  – Sharon Simoncini – New Jersey

 

“Great job tonight.  I’m going to call to sign up for the program.  

I’m looking forward to making changes in my life.”  – Kevin Noll – Pennsylvania

 

“Great call tonight!  I got a lot of new ideas and I’m excited about the program and next months call. Keep up the great work!” – Bruce Scott – Colorado

 

“Thanks for an energized and motivated phone call last night.

Your energy definitely helps refocus me on what my goals are. I had to force myself to put paperwork aside and calm myself for bed because I am one of those early morning people too.” – Mary Jackson – New Jersey

 

“Eric, I just listened to the MP3 recording from last months PEP tele-seminar! It was AWESOME! I just signed-up for the call on the 21st! This is exactly the kind of motivation and guidance I need to take my career to the next level – Thank-you!  -

Tara McNally – Florida

 

 

The next (P.E.P.) Tele-Seminar is Tuesday, August 21st @ 8:00pm. You can reserve your place today by replying to this email and typing P.E.P. Me in the subject line. 

 

I look forward to meeting you on the call and helping you remove your Mental Plaque.

 

Make This Your Best Year Ever!  

 

Eric Taylor

Chief Inspiration Officer

Empowerment Group International

www.EricTaylorSeminars.com ‘

Eric@EmpowermentGroup.com

732.982.8554 – Energized Office

 

 

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Beware of the "Energy Vampire"

Monday, August 6th, 2007

WARNING! There’s a 21st century Vampire out there … alive … and omni-present … and stalking YOU. Seriously. I’m not talking about myth or folklore.

 

This 21st century Vampire, much like the fictional Count Dracula created by writer Bram Stoker in 1897, lures victims by exuding charm, charisma and often sophisticated and engaging communication tactics. But he’s not literally a blood sucker. These initial strategies only mask the Vampire’s real intent and “true-self.” 

 

It doesn’t even have to be dark or late at night for this contemporary fiend to appear. You may have even met him recently at an early morning chamber meeting, a family barbeque, or at your local food store.  (Important Note: This Vampire is not gender specific.)

 

Once you become aware of his specific characteristics and traits, it seems like these demons are everywhere. 

 

Dracula sucks. The 19th century Count Dracula sucked the life and blood out of his victims to become rejuvenated.

 

And so does the modern monster. But with the 21st century Vampire you won’t loose a drop of the liquid running through your veins. Today’s Dracula is much more sophisticated and takes the process one step further. He gets rejuvenated by sucking what I think of as the lifeblood of success out of his victims.

 

The Vampire stalking you – and me – sucks the Energy out of his victims.

 

No cape, no fangs. The modern day monster doesn’t use his long white fangs to slurp a victim’s blood for energy. You won’t spot him by his long, swooping cape. No … he’s way too smooth for that.

 

He uses words, stories and gossip. If you allow him to hang around you long enough you will surely die a slow and painful death.

 

Or worse: You may even become one of them!

 

The ultimate goal of the Energy Vampire is to feel better by making you feel worse — to recruit you into his dark world of negativity, blame and excuses.

 

I know you’ve seen an Energy Vampire before; you may even work or live with one. But because they move among us even in daylight just like ordinary folks, they sometimes accomplish their dastardly deed before we even notice them.

 

Only one thing can save you. I’ve come up with twenty-six characteristics (although I’m certain there are more) to help you identify an Energy Vampire. I encourage you to become acutely sensitive to the words and actions that identify an Energy Vampire, so you can get away from them as quickly as possible.

 

Here are the 26 characteristics of an Energy Vampire.

 

  1. They don’t smile sincerely.
  2. They never belly laugh.
  3. They show up late.
  4. They are always complaining.
  5. They gossip using 3rd party references. (my aunt said)
  6. They very rarely volunteer (unless it makes them look good).
  7. They always look for short cuts.
  8. They always feel entitled.
  9. They are ignorant.
  10. They thrive on chaos.
  11. They create chaos.
  12. They like arguing.
  13. They think they’re always right.
  14. They’re unappreciative.
  15. They’re rude.
  16. They’re aloof.
  17. They’re always complaining.
  18. They spend time scheming instead of enjoying life.
  19. They immediately point out the negative.
  20. They compare.
  21. They are quick to criticize.
  22. They are paranoid.
  23. They do not trust others (because they don’t trust themselves).
  24. They seek first to be understood, before they understand.
  25. They literally suck the life and enthusiasm out of everyone they meet.
  26. They immediately make any room brighter — by leaving.  

 

So now you have some guidelines for spotting the Energy Vampire. But there’s one additional, critical thing you need to know about their evil ways:

 

They suck you in. They have the ability to convince you that they will leave their dark, negative world – if only you’ll get deeply involved with them. So you may feel it is your calling in life to “save” every Energy Vampire you encounter. You may feel compelled to convert them into a positive person. Believe me, they have the ability to fool you, even if only for a short time, and then “BANG!” — you’ve been bitten. 

 

ACTION IDEA: I’m a positive guy, a motivational speaker; some even say I’m an eternal optimist. (I like to think so.) But I do everything in my power to stay away from Energy Vampires. I encourage you to do the same.

 

Your two most important assets are your body (temple) and your mind. Everything you allow into either of the two, affects the essence of who you are and what you become.

 

IDEA IN ACTION: You don’t have to wear garlic around your neck to ward off “Energy Vampires.” You only need to wear a smile on your face.

 

The last word: In the definitive movie Dracula, the actor Bela Lugosi told us: “I have never met a vampire personally, but I don’t know what might happen tomorrow.” You’ve been warned.

  

P.S. Need some motivation, inspiration and P.E.P.?

 

Mark your calendar and plan to be on the next (P.E.P.)

Personal Empowerment Program Tele-Seminar – Tuesday, August 21st @ 8pm.

 

I will cover success strategies from the 2nd module of the Best Year Ever! program – “Build an Unstoppable Belief System.”

 

Make it a priority to be on this call – it could change your life!

 

Here are some testimonials and feedback from July’s Tele-Seminar.

 

I really enjoyed the Tele-Seminar tonight and I look forward to the upcoming calls. I’m interested in getting The Best Year Ever modules.” – Sharon Simoncini. from New Jersey

 

“Great job tonight.  I’m going to call to sign up for the program.   

I’m looking forward to making changes in my life.”  From Kevin Noll – Pennsylvania

 

“Great call tonight!  I got a lot of new ideas and I’m excited about the program and next months call. Keep up the great work!” -  From Bruce Scott – Colorado

 

“Thanks for an energized and motivated phone call last night.

Your energy definitely helps refocus me on what my goals are. I had to force myself to put paperwork aside and calm myself for bed because I am one of those early morning people too.” From Mary Jackson – New Jersey

 

 

The next (P.E.P.) Tele-Seminar is Tuesday, August 21st @ 8:00pm. You can reserve your place today by replying to this email and typing P.E.P. Me in the subject line. 

 

I look forward to meeting you on the call and helping you make this your Best Year Ever!

 

Eric Taylor

Chief Inspiration Officer

Empowerment Group International

www.EricTaylorSeminars.com ‘

Eric@EmpowermentGroup.com

732.982.8554 – Energized Office

 

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