Special Guest post from my friend MJ Schrader, aka “Love Rockstar”

MJ is participating in a project with me and several of our colleagues which will be ready for publication very soon.  This article is directly related to that.  Thanks MJ for the great content!  If you would like to sign up to be notified when the Passion into Cash Project is ready, go here:  http://mypassionintocash.com

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When you know your passion and follow it, your business is more likely to succeed. Your potential buyers will feel your passion and want to be a part of it. Your confidence will grow because your heart will be on fire and you will be less afraid of failure. These elements of your passion are what creates business success. Now you need to know what your passion is to create your online business, offline business or local business.

What did you enjoy as a child?

Remember what made you happy when you were young. Think about the things you loved to do. Then think about the things you love to do now. There may just be a correlation between the two. There may be something that suddenly jumps into your mind.

What would you do if every job paid the same?

This is what kills most dreams and passions. You were probably told as a child that this job pays and that job does not. Do what you need to do and forget about what you want to do. Yet if you want to live a passion filled life you need to do what you want.

What makes you feel alive?

This is actually based on a powerful quote by Harold Whitman. “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.’”

What fascinates you?

There may be a topic you read about any time you can. Perhaps there is a topic you research regularly, studying the latest news. You may research answers to questions you may or may not have. If you are regularly learning about something it is probably a passion of yours and a hint of your future business success.

What do people ask you?

You probably have people ask you questions about some particular topic. They may ask you for advice, help or how to do something. They are coming to you because you are who they consider an expert. This is also very likely something that you are passionate about and they hear it in your voice and feel your enthusiasm.

What would you do if failure was impossible?

This is probably the biggest test of all. You may have something pop into your head that you have been wanting to do. You fear failure. Do not worry, everyone does. The difference is what people do, do they push through the fear, or allow it to stop them. Your passion, your future, your business success all depend on what you do with that fear.

Are you wondering how to get started online? Or need a little how to help? You can find friendly, easy step by step guides here. MJ Schrader has a goal of “making your inner rockstar shine in your online business and life” which is reflected in her amiable and instructional forms. Make your inner rockstar shine and visit http://RockstarGuideBooks.com today Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=MJ_Schrader

By Jason Osborn

No matter who you are or what your occupation may be, you will need to learn how to concentrate and focus. You could be a student, or an office worker, or even someone involved in manual labor such as a construction worker but one thing is sure – you will need to devote time and energy to concentration and focus on your occupation.

But first of all, just what is concentration? Concentration is defined as deep mental application towards something. If you are concentrating on something, you devote all your attention to it.

So, what is the difference between concentration and focus?

 
photo courtesy bizior

Focus would be the level of concentration you practice at something. So you could be concentrating on something but perhaps not be focused on it. If you were really interested in that object or person, and devoted all of your concentration on it, it can be said that you are focused.

So how do you learn to focus (meaning you improve the level of your concentration)?

First, you have to accept that there are two types of individuals out there. You could be the type that has learned how to deal with frustration or you could be the type that has not. If you believe you are the former yet find it hard to finish the task you are working on – remember, you can still do more than what you believe you can do. This means really pushing yourself to develop mental stamina by going beyond the point of frustration. Just keep working despite the feeling that you want to give up and you will develop mental endurance.

Second, if you have a tendency to become scatterbrained, try bribing your mind. Do one task at a time but impose time limits – this will prevent your mind from focusing on other less important tasks.

Third, if you still can’t seem to focus, write down your concerns on a to-do list. This allows you to free some space in your mind for immediate concerns, rather than use your mind as a bulletin board.

Last, you have to fight the urge to procrastinate. If you have a task to do, and you want to postpone it, ask yourself: Should I do this? If I do it, will I keep worrying about it? If I postpone it, will it be easier to do later? By asking yourself those 3 key questions, you gain the motivation to mentally apply yourself towards finishing your goal.

Is there greatness on the inside of you but you don’t know how to achieve it? Jason has just completed his brand new 7 part e-course, ‘Find Your Greatness’

Get it free here:
Find Your Greatness

Do you want to learn how to create successful habits and goals? Download Jason’s new FREE ebook here: [http://www.findyourgreatness.com/4habitsmain.php]Goal Setting

Jason Osborn has dedicated himself to changing thousands of lives by helping people find their greatness and true potential through his Find Your Greatness Newsletter.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Learning-to-Concentrate-and-Focus&id=734990] Learning to Concentrate and Focus

7 Things You Should Never Apologize For
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Megan_Jenifer]Megan Jenifer

When I was younger, I used to have a habit of saying, “I’m sorry” after doing or saying something that I thought may have been non-appealing to the recipient. It didn’t matter what it was. It could be a joke that I told that didn’t garner an appropriate response of laughter from my perspective. It could be after something as simple as a sneeze.

However, after growing up a bit, I realized that I don’t have to be sorry for EVERYTHING. I should only apologize when an apology is necessary. In certain instances I’ve also learned that there are times where you may do or say something that may be a bit uncomfortable for another person. You shouldn’t have to apologize for saying those things. You may wish to apologize for the pain that saying these things may have caused but the actual act and reason should not be one of remorse.

In this article, you’ll find seven instances where you should be willing to take action and not apologize for it later.

Being honest.
People often say, “the truth hurts,” or “you can’t handle the truth,” or “you don’t really want to hear the truth.” The fact of the matter is, everyone does want the truth; however, it’s no longer in your control once the truth is out how the other person will handle hearing that information. What you should be mindful of is the timing of your truth delivery. There’s definitely timing to truth. Sometimes, you may need to delay what you share for a more appropriate time. You may not wish to tell your best friend right away that you are thinking about moving to France when they’re mourning the loss of a loved one. But when you do choose to tell them at the best moment, there’s nothing to be remorseful about. Be honest.

Loving yourself.
In a previous article, I brought to the forefront how important it is to love yourself before you can honestly and truthfully love another. When you pour love into yourself, many people mistake that for selfishness or even overconfidence. Take inventory of the type of signal that you’re emitting when you are “loving yourself.” If you are in a genuine place of love, then that signal should not get misinterpreted, but if it is clouded with a little bit of separation, meaning you’re trying to make yourself feel better at the expense of someone else deliberately, then that’s not really a love vibration is it? So, if you’re getting back from someone that you’re being selfish, really check the authenticity of your self-love. However, if you’re certain that you are giving yourself the very best, then that’s nothing to be sorry for.

Crying when you need to.
Even if you’re embarrassed to cry, crying is a release of pinned up emotion that everyone was built with the capacity to do. It’s fine and quite cleansing to let out tears when they well up in your eyes. It doesn’t make you any less strong or mature to cry. It’s a natural response to overwhelming emotion (whether happy or sad), and it’s all OK. Crying also moves you to a more upstream vibration if you’re vibrating at the lower end of the emotional scale, because it helps you to move beyond what could have been holding you back.

Taking a break.
I used to be guilty of this one a lot. Life can get a bit challenging and complex when a lot of things are happening simultaneously. Many times we’re expected to just push through and “suck it up.” If we do this too much, our body will shut us down in the most seemingly inopportune time. It’s more healthy and beneficial to literally stop every once and a while to breathe, to let your hair down, to relax, to rejuvenate. It’s necessary. It’s part of our body’s natural rhythm. When we disrupt this, we can break down our bodies’ defenses and become more susceptible to sickness. Take a load off. You deserve it every once and a while especially when you know you’re moving in the right direction.

Being alone.
Being by yourself is not a bad thing. Taking some alone time to get quiet and at peace with the Oneness that IS and around you is a treat! It’s a gift from Source to be able to connect and communicate directly with whom and where all of your help comes from. It gives you the space to tap more into your intuitive gifts and really hear what it is that’s calling you. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, relish in the opportunity to spoil and cherish yourself…to meet only your demands….to listen to only your requests….. and to tend to only your needs. Take the time to pamper and really love on yourself. You’ll be more equipped to share later.

Change.
This is the ONE thing in life that is consistent. Change always occurs and we as humans need to be sensitive and flexible to change. It may be a bit uncomfortable to impose abrupt changes on another person’s life when you’re involved in the change, but oftentimes change is very necessary for survival, peace of mind, help, strength, hope and faith. When you make a decision, at the time that you make it, you should do so with certainty and have your reasons why. But don’t be afraid to change your mind. You have the right to do so especially if you learned something after your decision that could save you lots of heart ache in the long-run. Listen to your gut and trust your intuition. If change is coming, welcome it.

Saying “no.”
This is a gigantic one. Saying “no” sets boundaries, and why should we have to apologize for protecting ourselves? Sure, it may hurt your significant other’s feelings to say no to a request that they earnestly may want a “yes.” too. If the “yes” causes you to compromise integrity, your spirit, your trust, your values, your truth or anything that means a whole lot more to you, then saying “no” shouldn’t be something that you regret later. When you say “no,” as with everything else in this post, really mean it and have your reason for why you said it. Make sure it has weight.

These are the 7 instances that have become most apparent in my life. What are other things you feel you shouldn’t have to apologize for?

Megan Jenifer operates the blog http://www.TheLawofAttractionStation.com which is all about The Law of Attraction. She loves giving away free stuff and is now giving away a free copy of her special report, “The Top 10 Ways Most People Repel Money.” In addition to this free report, you’ll also have a free membership to her newsletter. You’re not going to believe what you get when you sign-up and it’s all free.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?7-Things-You-Should-Never-Apologize-For&id=1493640] 7 Things You Should Never Apologize For

So what is your “Tara”? At the end of the movie, Scarlett O’Hara is beaten, broke, and alone. She has lost everything she has ever owned, everyone she has ever loved, and feels helpless and hopeless.

As she expresses her desperation to Rhett Butler: “Where shall I go, what shall I do” , he answers with the famous line “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn”. Miss Scarlet  is all used up and pretty much done.

Sometimes our world feels like this. Everythings seems lost. We seem lost. We have nothing to cling to, and feel hopeless. But are we? Through Miss Scarlet’s tears and anguish, somewhere in the back of her once-upon-a-dream mind she recalls her father’s words…..

 

land is the only thing in the world worth workin’ for, worth fightin’ for, worth dyin’ for, because it’s the only thing that lasts.

Scarlet realizes something. She has herself. She has Tara. “Tara Tara Tara Tara Tara”! It tears at the back of her mind like a raging bull and Miss Scarlet finds her resolve at last. She knows she will make it. She has Tara. She is still who she is. No one can take her identity.

So what’s your Tara? What is the one thing about you that is all you, truly you, that no one can take away? Find your focus by using this as your anchor. Your soulness never leaves you. Focus is always attainable when you find your center. Your truth. Your Tara.

First, he suggests if you have what you consider a good idea, do not ditch it at the first sign of negativity. Hang on to your idea and follow through, instead of letting a ton of good ideas fall at your feet and end up nowhere.

Next he explains the importance of dealing with what he calls “knock backs”. Negative comments and feedback can be turned into positive spin and actually help you reach your goal, when dealt with appropriately.

“Spikes” and “Rumbles” get a bit of attention, and are a natural occurrence, says James. Expect Highs and lows in your traffic (spikes) on a daily basis. If you get less traffic than yesterday, no need to throw in the towel. Keep an eye on the overall performance to know where you may need improvement, but do not use spikes as a gauge for success. Rumbles, according to James, are the butterflies we get when trying out new things, which he compares to learning to ride a bike. We all get them, and we cannot let them stop us. If we do not grow through the rumbles, we cannot go anywhere!

Read the full post

I am very fortunate to have among my friends a gentleman by the name of Tony Laidig.

Tony is very successful, yet still down to earth and kind, and loves to help others.

A quick question to Tony on Facebook this morning “Tony, how do you manage to do all you do?” garnered this tidbit of wisdom which I felt was perfect for this blog. 

Here is what Tony said:

there are 5 motivating factors behind what I do:

1. Love what I do

2. Intense curiosity

3. Focused time blocks

4. Relentless tenacity

5. Huge “reason why”

 Those five factors will bring success to anything you do.

 Notice Tony’s 3rd factor – “Focused Time Blocks”

This is exactly what I help you to achieve in my focus praxis audio pack.

It is not a huge, unfathomable achievement to learn to focus more effectively, but it does take steady practice. 

I created these audios as a solution to the very core of the “I cannot focus” issue. 

You CAN focus, but you first must practice it. The audios are short and help you practice getting back on track quickly. 

I hope you will take a minute to consider grabbing your copy now.  I have set the price very low while I am participating in Pat O’Bryan’s “UnLaunch”. If you purchase it today, you’re basically grabbing my lunch tab in exchange for these 9 short exercises I have prepared for you. 

Get “In the Zone” like my friend Tony is, and learn how to be your own focused Rock Star!

by Elaine Currie

What should you do when you know you have lost focus on your home business goals?  Here are three tips to help you get back on track.

Step One: stay calm.

It would be unproductive to allow yourself to sit and worry about the fact that you can’t concentrate, can’t seem to finish simple tasks and seem to be getting nowhere.  Worrying about your loss of focus can lead you into a state of paralysis because you will feel that your home business and everything around you is beyond your control.

It is upsetting when you experience an inability to maintain focu because  it makes you feel so helpless.  Keep yourself calm by doing a few of your favourite relaxation exercises.

Step Two: identify the underlying problem.

Identifying the underlying problem will enable you to decide what form of cure is needed.  Until you know what’s broken, you won’t know how to fix it.  Putting on a band-aid won’t fix a broken leg but calling out the ambulance because you have a headacher is a waste of time and resources.

When your ability to focus has evaporated, it can be hard to keep things in perspective.  It can seem like starting your home business was a bad idea and that your loss of focus is the beginning of the end. Don’t let this sort of negative idea take over or you will convince yourself that you have made a bad choice.  You can end up thinking you should just give up your home business altogether.  Your loss of focus is a probably just a temporary thing brought on by everyday life events so it is worth allowing time to figure out exactly what went wrong.

Step Three: start the cure.

Having recognised why you lost focus on your home business, you can start the healing process.  It could be that you are mildly ill or tired and just need some time off to recover.  It could be that pressures of daily life are taking your attention off your home business.    Don’t allow yourself become depressed and abandon up your home business when all you need is a little time off.

The reason for loss of focus might seen insignificant but the effect can be serious and that’s the important thing.   It happened and now you need to deal with it.  Remember the top reasons for starting your own home business in the first place?  One of them  was the freedom you get from being your own boss and making your own hours.  If you aren’t working at your best and need a break, exercise that freedom and take some time off.  A break from the situation can almost be guaranteed to cure the problem of loss of focus.

The three steps to regaining focus on your home business are stay calm, diagnose the disorder and prescribe yourself the right cure.  You are the boss but as well as having to bear all the responsibilities, you have the authority to give yourself time off when you need it.
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For more articles about self motivation and focus  to achieve home business success visit Elaine Currie’s Work At Home Directory

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_173554_3.html

It’s easy to start off doing something whilst the adrenaline is pumping, filled with good intentions, but the real test is to keep going when the initial enthusiasm is starting to wane. Let me tell you right now that several unfinished projects are at worst going to make you no money and at best going to make you a very small fraction of what you could otherwise have achieved if you had stuck to the original gameplan.

Your biggest enemy in the quest for focus is distraction. By distraction I’m talking about anything that can make you deviate from a project you are working on. At the lowest level this begins with the ‘time suckers’ such as religiously checking your email and wasting precious time on instant messenger or skype. The worst kind of distraction is believing that something else is ‘the answer’ you have been looking for, so you drop what you are doing, start that and sure enough for whatever reason you get bored or you quit on that one too.

Before you know it you’ve done a lot of not-a-lot. This is tragic because every hour you have to spare should be used productively to build your internet marketing business. If you do this not only will you see hugely better results, but you will have the motivation to keep going when you know that nothing is going to stop you from successfully completing your next project. Good old fashioned work will get you where you want to go, whereas buying an ebook and half completing a project won’t.

Dean James is the owner and webmaster of an Internet Marketing weblog where he talks more about viable methods to succeed and earn money online at http://www.dean-james.com

One thing that I’ve learned over the years, is that our teachers come in many shapes, sizes and forms. Just recently I was feeding my dog some watermelon when I realized that she was teaching me something that I needed to know about focusing and productivity.

My dog taught me 3 things about focusing that I feel compelled to share with you here.

1. Keep your eye on the prize
   When I was offering her some watermelon, despite the other distractions in the house, my dog kept her eyes firmly on the watermelon slice that I had in my hand. She never wavered in her attention. She knew what she wanted and she knew how to let me know what she wanted.
2. Don’t be afraid to go after what you want
   I’m guilty of this. I’m learning more and more about why it is that I back away from pursuing my goals. It’s a process of ongoing improvement. My dog, does not hesitate. No amount of “don’t beg” will keep her away from coming up to me and begging for some watermelon or whatever it is that I happen to be eating.
3. Savor getting what you want
   This one may be a little harder to accomplish, and no, I’m not a dog expert, but I can tell you that when she gets her piece of watermelon, she enjoys it. She savors the sweet taste of the watermelon and when she’s done eating that piece, she goes back to step 1 and tries to get another piece.

Bonus Step: Perseverance is key. The old saying “If you don’t succeed, try and try again” rings true to me from watching my dog. She was determined and of single mind and focus. I don’t know if dogs can think or not, what I do know is that she was determined to get some watermelon and nothing was going to get in her way.

I think that a lot of times we get distracted and lose sight of our original goal. We talk ourselves into believing that we can try for some “watermelon” or whatever our goal is another day but then we never try. It’s easier for us to deal with not trying than it is for us to deal with failing to achieve our goals.

We don’t bother picturing ourselves enjoying the sweet taste of success, so it never happens.

Success is like a mystery to most folks living on this planet. It is very disturbing to the untutored why some should have everything life offers while others live in abject dissatisfaction and under achievement. You may find yourself in this group of the frustrated. The magical secret to success is what I want to reveal to you in this article so that you too can understand the quiet and powerful tool the super successful have been using to climb the ladder of great achievement. You don’t need to be extraordinary and super to apply this key. Ordinary people like you have used it to achieve extraordinary results. Think about new invention or trend. Think about any new discovery. Think about any new cloth in vogue. Think about any new method of solving a nagging medical problem. Think about any new way to doing things to achieve greater and faster result. This magic key is the secret behind them all. Anyone who will may apply it usefully to transform his life and fortune. This magic key will unlock the door to unbelievable riches. It will unlock the door to fortune and fame. It is very easy to use this magic key to unlock the door to physical health and well being.

This magic key unlocks the door to education and unleash your hidden potential. It is your gateway to any position you may ever think of or imagine in life. This magic key will make you powerful just as it has done to brave men and women who applied it in the ages past. Marie Curie applied it and won the Nobel Prize twice- one in Physics and another in Chemistry.

If you are a messenger presently in a very low position and desire to become great in life and be in a better position, this magic key will help you to achieve that goal. Napoleon Hill used that key. He became a most celebrated author of Think and Grow Rich. His life was transformed from that of an ordinary errand journalist to a super human being who got the attention of political leaders of his age. His ideas still continues to transform the lives of countless people who desire riches and want to run businesses of their own. Bill Gates used this magic and became the world’s richest man at 40. Warren Buffet used this magic key and became the richest investor of all ages. Think about it. What could have been responsible for the widely acknowledged success of Donald Trump in real estate business but for this magic key. All these people accumulated vast fortunes and wealth.

This magic key cuts across all facet of human life. It will unlock the prison doors and turn hardened criminals into agent of change and dependable human beings. This magic key turns misery into happiness.

The question now is what could this magic key be?

This magic key is Concentration. It is a 13 lettered word. Very simple but powerful. It has a tremendous power that transforms life like a tornado in action. Concentration I’m talking about here means your ability to fix your attention on a particular thing you want to achieve and thoroughly familiarize yourself with that subject until you have mastered the nitty-gritty of the matter and move ahead to achieve your goal. You say no to any form of distraction whatever the sacrifice may be. Think and Grow Rich is a world’s best seller today. Very few people are there who know that it took Napoleon Hill 25 years to discover the principles espoused in that life-changing book.

Concentration is your ability to do away with destructive habits and build new ones guaranteed to make your life better. Concentration helps you to achieve complete self mastery. You attain a high level of discipline, have great power to control your thoughts and direct them to a definite purpose in life.

How To Automatically Condition Yourself To Acquire The Power Of Concentration

You need two vital supplementary keys to automatically condition yourself to attain the power of concentration.

The first principle is ambition. You need to be ambitious before you can use the power of concentration. Living aimlessly in life will keep you at the low ladder of success. You will remain a nobody and people will continue to look down on you. That is certainly not the kind of life you want to live. You want your life to count. You want to be a source of blessing to others. You want to have everything you want in life and be comfortable. You want to move to the next level in your career. You don’t want to remain uneducated. Have ambition. Aspire to be great. Take steps to improve yourself then attaining the power of concentration will not be difficult for you.

The second principle is desire. Desire is a chief factor and foundation for any successful enterprise in life. It is like a fuel that drives your car. It is the stimulant that awakes your imagination. Desire starts any good thing you can think of in life. When you combine desire with ambition, you are ready to automatically condition yourself to attain the power of concentration. That is it for you. The magic key of concentration works. Rise up and start to use it to improve your life and future.