"Success is a journey, not a destination!"

- Ben Sweetland

Success is not just about saying the right things, it's about DOING the right things. Applying and integrating what you already know. How do you integrate more of what you're learning? Here are three places to start.

One of the reasons we don't integrate what we're learning is because we're bombarded with information. We have too many choices: magazines, the Internet, our mailboxes, television news, newspapers, books, seminars, mentors, coaches. We often overdose on information. We get overwhelmed. We stop paying attention. We stop learning. And our lives suffer for it. Go on an information diet. Eliminate all the worthless stuff that bombards you every day. You know, the stuff that doesn't help you become more successful -- TV and newspapers for example - and focus in on information that inspires you. Get rid of books that bore you to tears. Throw out the junk mail. Delete useless emails. Take back control of what you put into your brain.

Focus on taking less action. One day I decided that I was going to computerize my resource data system. I ordered literature, and bought books on several software packages for contact management, read them all, then I proceeded to try to put three plus years of business cards, address label programs, and telephone directories to my new system. Of course I wanted it all done in one day. It never happened. I became frustrated. So I stopped learning. Why? Because I tried to do too much at once. Consistency, a key to massive success, involves taking little baby steps every day. If you want to be a powerful public speaker, you can't just read a book about speaking and think you'll magically become a fabulous public speaker. Life doesn't work that way. To be a success, it takes practice. Experiment. Apply a little bit more every time you speak. Take one great idea you've learned and apply it. Then apply something else the next day. And the next day. And the next day. Over time you'll integrate a tremendous amount. Think baby steps.

A big trap people fall into is believing they can't use what they've learned until they really know it. Success is about experimentation. It's about taking action. Integrating what you know forces you to take action. You'll feel a bit uncomfortable as you're trying out a new idea. That's natural. You'll soon be amazed at how much you really understand once you take action. And, how much you'll learn.

Lesson Learned: The key to success is not just saying you understand success. It's about living and being a success. Prosperity is being in control of life's situations and circumstances.

A great motto to live by!

We convince ourselves that life will be better when we are married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we will be more content when they are. After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.

We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is that there is no better time than now to be happy. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to your self and decide to be happy anyway. Treasure every moment you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time. . . and remember that time waits for no one.

So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave your house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your new car or home is paid off, until spring, until fall, until winter, until summer, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you have had a drink until you have sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness - like success is a journey, not a destination.

Work like you don't need money,

Love like you have never been hurt

And dance like no one is watching!