Who made that decision for you?

Taking charge of your business, of your life, of what happens to you from this day forward sounds like a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. The hardest and most important part is realizing that where you are now in your life, the type of job, the business, your life, has all been the result of decisions you have made in the past.

Oh sure, there are always outside influences and others doing things that may have impeded you, but they actually didn't have anything to do with your outcome so far. Why? Because it's not what they said or did or didn't do that made the difference, it's YOU, how you reacted to it, how you decided to left it influence you.

This is your first step and it's the biggie. Taking responsibility, true, real responsibility for where you are now.

Have you ever heard that money attracts money, that "s/he gets all the breaks", or people are lucky? They really do actually attract what you call breaks or luck. Know why? Because they really and truly, in their heart BELIEVE they deserve it. Hey, they do and so do you!

It is true. Whatever energy you give to the world, the world gives back. So, let's say you're having a bad day. How do you handle it? Grumpy, telling everyone you're having a bad day, when things go wrong, you keep dropping things, bumping into things, etc., you curse, swear, getting angrier? NO You drop something, pick it up, be totally conscious with everything you do that day, hum a happy tune (even if it's just in your head). You get the idea, it's all how YOU CHOOSE to handle it, react to it, take control and make it go the way you want it to.

This is true for absolutely everything in your life. So, with this in mind, stop, think, backtrack from where you are now to the decisions that brought you here. Include those things that you believe influenced you or even made the decision for you. Did they really, or did you let them? You let them, be honest with yourself, because even inaction and letting others "do it" to or for you is your decision. Include your personal life, your business's direction, growth or lack of growth.

Now, remember, this is the hardest part, but soooo important. Be absolutely honest with yourself (no one else is going to see this, but it's important that you do). As you go through your list and look at the influences and decisions that brought you here that, until now, you believed were beyond your control, think of and write down exactly how YOU actually made that happen. Also remember, some of these are good experiences and decisions. Keep track of those as well, be proud of them.

OK, go think, ponder and write. You will not believe how much power you really have over the supposed "accidents" in life.

I challenge YOU!

I know there are literally thousands of you out there that have that sinking feeling that the success you want is never going to come, that you're working harder and longer, but can't seem to garner the praise or accumulate the customers you think should have been flocking your way.

You know what, I doubt it's your products. They're probably great! I truly believe that honesty is the best policy, especially with yourself. I don't care what you tell others, or me, but you absolutely, positively HAVE to be honest with yourself.

YOU are in total and complete charge of your success. No one is going to hand it to you, no one is going to knock on your door and say, here, let me take over and make it easy for you, no one is going to give you step by step by step instructions on where your starting point is and the finished line is, where you will be done, completely successful, without a care in the world.

Uh, uh, it's not going to happen, honey, so that leaves you, just you, to make it happen for you. Now that doesn't necessarily mean that you are alone, that doesn't necessarily mean that you cannot ask for help, opinions, advice, etc. What it means is, that if you take the time to attend a business chat, if you take the time to post on a messageboard, if you take the time to ask for and receive information, then use it the chat, messageboard and advice. Use it to the full extent you can, use it as it was mean to be used when given to you.

I challenge you to take control of your own destiny and make it happen for yourself.

Never Quit. "Don't ever, ever quit. Recognize that stopping now, regrouping to try a new approach isn't quitting. If you quit you'll regret it forever. —Rudy Ruettiger

There are very straightforward, common sense steps you can take, to accomplish this in any aspect of your life.

Join me, beginning with a live chat on November 9, 2006 and realize that YOU can make things happen, good things, great things. YOU control your limits and find out why there really aren't any for you to hold you back.

Send me an e-mail to postmaster@cjscandywraps.com, to register NOW. Make no excuses, go get what you want!

Do you ever feel like running faster doesn't mean you're catching up?

OK, so between kids, the house, creating, taking orders, puting them together, shipping and, well, life in general, I sometimes feel like I'm slowly slipping behind and I need to speed up my process.

I know that going faster is not necessarily better, but things just jumped at me and wow! we're moving along at a pretty fast clip now! And all I can think of is that I need to keep up.

So, I made a decision to get help. I'm looking at different scenarios, like software to help me organize, list management, autoresponders, equipment to mass produce of items and I'm going to try a VA again.

There's got to be a way to run this more efficiently.

I need to spend more time with the kids, enjoy everything that's part of my family life right now. I really enjoy what I'm doing, in fact it's great fun! I just need to work it more efficiently and do what I said I would do ....... manage a successful business that allows me to do what I want when I want with my family.

I'll get there, I know I will!