Creating Your Own Destiny E-Book

Patrick Snow

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 335

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2010

Beschreibung

Put your own fate exactly where it belongs-in your hands It is one of the great questions of life. Its a simple question,really, but it seems impossible for many to answer: Do we controlour own destinies? 90 percent of people think and act as if theirdestiny is foreordained, while only about 10 percent believe in thecapacity to change and act on it. Creating Your Own Destiny explains and demonstrates tothe majority how to dream, plan, and execute a betterfuture-despite the challenges of the economy and lifecircumstances. * Based on time-honored principles, theories, and casestudies * Provides a Success Road Map for all those people who areseeking to achieve success but who aren't satisfied with theircareers. * Written in an easy and accessible tone by Patrick Snow, who hasbeen dubbed "the Dean of Destiny" With the powerful and practical tools featured in this essentialguide, you'll find yourself newly empowered and energized toachieve extraordinary results.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Praise

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

SECTION ONE - DREAM

CHAPTER 1 - Visualizing Your Dreams

A NEW BEGINNING

A PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

DETERMINE YOUR DESTINATION IN ADVANCE

SUMMARY

CHAPTER 2 - Setting Big Goals

THE POWER OF GOALS

LIFE-DEFINING QUESTIONS

WHERE TO LIVE

A GOAL COLLAGE

SUMMARY

CHAPTER 3 - Putting Your Family Ahead of Work

MY FAMILY

MOVING UP

THE CHALLENGES NEVER END

LEARNING TO FISH

ENSLAVEMENT TO YOUR EMPLOYER

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

SUMMARY

CHAPTER 4 - Building Real Wealth

YOUR JOB IS A TEMPORARY VEHICLE

MULTIPLE STREAMS OF INCOME

BUSINESS OWNERSHIP

WEALTH 101

THE COMMON SENSE DEFINITION OF WEALTH

WHAT IS AN INCOME-PRODUCING ASSET?

WEALTH CHARACTERISTICS

OWNERSHIP AND EQUITY

HOW DO I BUILD AN INCOME-PRODUCING ASSET?

ANOTHER DEFINITION OF WEALTH

KNOWING WHERE YOU ARE

SALES SUCCESS FORMULA

DOING WHAT YOU LOVE

SUMMARY

SECTION TWO - PLAN

CHAPTER 5 - Creating Your Game Plan

WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER

THE CALENDAR BOOK

FLEXIBLE PLANNING

DAILY HABITS OF A WORLD CHAMPION

GOAL SHEET INSERTS

SUMMARY

CHAPTER 6 - Conquering Adversity, Temptation, and Addiction

LIFE LESSONS

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

DEALING WITH TEMPTATION

THE HORROR OF ADDICTIONS

HOW TO CONQUER ADDICTIONS

THE POWER OF A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

SUMMARY

CHAPTER 7 - Overcoming Your Fears

EVERYONE HAS FEAR

PUTTING YOUR FEARS ASIDE

FEAR DESTRUCTION PROCESS

PAIN AND PLEASURE

SUMMARY

CHAPTER 8 - Remembering Those Who Molded You

FRIENDS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

FAMILY MAKES A DIFFERENCE

SUMMARY

SECTION THREE - EXECUTE

CHAPTER 9 - Executing Your Plan Daily

TAKING RISKS

FINDING MORE TIME

EXECUTE TODAY AND BENEFIT TOMORROW

DAILY EXECUTION

SUMMARY

CHAPTER 10 - Growing Your Business on a Limited Budget

SEVEN DESIRABLE TRAITS FOR BUSINESS OWNERSHIP

ROAD MAP TO START A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS

THE INTERNET

UNIQUE SELLING PROPOSITION

SUCCESSFUL INTERNET AND WEB SITE STRATEGIES

REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES OF ENTREPRENEURS USING THE INTERNET

SUMMARY

CHAPTER 11 - Choosing Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Daily

THREE STEPS TO GOOD HEALTH AND WEIGHT LOSS

ELIMINATING SWEETS

EXERCISING DAILY

DRINKING WATER

STRATEGIES FOR WEIGHT LOSS AND HEALTHY EATING

SUMMARY

CHAPTER 12 - Making Permanent Changes in Your Life

MOTIVATION VERSUS INSPIRATION

DESTINY COACH NETWORK

ILEARNINGGLOBAL.TV

ILEARNINGGLOBAL FACULTY

ILEARNINGGLOBAL MISSION

MASTERMIND MARKETING

SELF-LIMITING BELIEFS

LIVING YOUR DREAMS

SUMMARY

SECTION FOUR - SOAR

CHAPTER 13 - Leading and Leveraging Your Network

MASTERMIND GROUPS

JOINT VENTURES

SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH GREATNESS

THE DESTINY ACHIEVERS CLUB

BUSINESS COACHES

LOCAL NETWORKING CLUBS

GLOBAL NETWORKING ON THE INTERNET

INNER CIRCLE

SUMMARY

CHAPTER 14 - Developing Your Higher Calling

WHAT IS A HIGHER CALLING?

DEFINITION OF SUCCESS

SUMMARY

CHAPTER 15 - Leaving Your Legacy

GREED AND MATERIALISM

HAPPINESS

YOUR GIFT TO THE WORLD

SOARING

SUMMARY

CHAPTER 16 - Asking Yourself the Ultimate Destiny Questions

LIFE’S BIGGEST QUESTIONS

TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY DILEMMA

THE ANSWER

SUMMARY

A FINAL NOTE

NOTES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE SNOW GROUP

BEST-SELLER PUBLISHING COACHING

BOOK PATRICK SNOW TO SPEAK AT YOUR NEXT EVENT

INDEX

Praise for Creating Your Own Destiny

“More Americans put families ahead of work. Family is important to Patrick Snow. He is a speaker, coach, and author of Creating Your Own Destiny. Employees used to be willing to sacrifice because of things like stock options. Now they’re fed up. They realize that family is the only stabilizing force in today’s turbulent economy. Making time for family isn’t just important for a few employees like Snow—it’s a growing priority for many workers disillusioned by layoffs, corporate scandal, and waning corporate loyalty. Seventy percent of employees don’t think there is a healthy balance between work and personal life.”

USA TODAY Cover story, December 5, 2002

“When Patrick Snow, a consultant in Bainbridge Island, WA, decided to leave a corporate sales job he called three friends for advice. ‘The employee handbook was good for a general overview, but it failed to answer some specific questions,’ said Mr. Snow who left to start his own professional speaking business. ‘Lucky for me, the information my buddies gave me enabled me to plan my exit strategy perfectly.’ ”

The New York Times Business page, September 4, 2005

“Patrick Snow’s Creating Your Own Destiny is the most energetic and inspiring book written on fulfilling your dreams and finding true happiness in life. I do not doubt that it will be a classic in the field of self-help beside Think and Grow Rich and The Power of Positive Thinking.”

Tyler Tichelaarwww.SuperiorBookPromotions.com

“I am constantly looking for books that are well-written, resonate with our coaching approach of life-work balance, and that I can recommend to our clients. In writing Creating Your Own Destiny, Patrick Snow has produced a book that accomplishes all three. I like his balance between simplicity and insight. The book is a tremendous resource for anyone who wants to get started on living a life with purpose, direction, and fulfillment.”

Raymond Gleason, Executive Coach, Building Champions, Inc.

“The insights in your book are exactly what the people in our country need to live a better life. I am hopeful that I can bring you to Indonesia soon for a seminar. I will be the first to greet you off the plane.”

Sanjay Ramchandani INDONESIA

“Reading Creating Your Own Destiny has changed my life. I had all my goals in my mind but I needed your book to show me how to turn all my ideas into action.”

Flavia De Angelis ITALY

“As a result of reading your book two years ago, I have completely re-prioritized my life. At the time I was very confused, so your book was a blessing to me. After seeing you speak live in person, I have realized that now is the time to build my business again.”

Elvie Regala PHILIPPINES

“I think your book is clear, practical, and stimulating. The basic idea that man makes his own destiny is something that all human beings must come to understand.”

Rodolfo F. Cordero ARGENTINA

“Your book is excellent. I particularly enjoyed the part that covers how to create wealth and earn residual income through business ownership. Great work!”

Michael Bullock IRELAND

“Your book taught me that if I am going to achieve my goals, I must never give up! Your book has been an incredible resource for me in keeping my dreams alive.”

Pablo Fritz PANAMA

“I really benefited from your message in your book about overcoming your self-limiting beliefs. Thanks for sharing this gift with your readers in our country.”

Vale Gonzalez CHILE

“Thanks for the personal touch in writing your great book. I am very impressed as to how you show such a strong interest in the lives of your students. It really puts the cherry on the cake. I want you to remember my name because I will meet you one day.”

Lukas Teblanch SOUTH AFRICA

“If I had the authority in the government of Uganda, I would have you come speak to all of our citizens. Your book and destiny message offers an incredible career road map.”

Rwendeire Peniel UGANDA

“Your book taught me that no one can hold me back except myself. I am now attracting the most amazing opportunities. How enlightening it is to know that I can create and achieve my own destiny.”

Merlyn Gibson NEW ZEALAND

“Your book has helped me realize that all is possible in life. I have been having some rough times at work as of late and your book has helped me overcome this adversity.”

Emel Ramirez COSTA RICA

“Patrick, you have written a tremendous book and you are an amazing speaker. You have a great way of bringing out the best in all of us. After listening to you speak, I walked away creating the best of me!”

A.M. Noel MALAYSIA

“I have read more than 700 self-help and motivational books and yours is the best! I have read the Spanish version of your book and will apply all that I have learned to my life.”

Alberto Hernandez SPAIN

“Your book is excellent and your speech was the best one of the entire conference! It woke me up to ask myself where I am at this stage of my life. Thank you for the light that you turned back on in my mind. I am again on the horse.”

Vladimir Chepurnoi RUSSIA

“I don’t know quite how to describe the full impact that your book has made on my life! It now serves as my life guideline since I have learned that I can indeed overcome all the adversities in my life.”

Kelvin Uzomah NIGERIA

“I am now reading your book a second time and it is the best book I have ever read! Please keep blessing people like myself who are looking for a better way of life.”

Karen Harding JAMAICA

“I just read your incredible book and now I am reading it a second time. It bristles with superb information and my mind is now full of exciting new ideas!”

Peter Thompson UNITED KINGDOM

“I downloaded your free goals sheets and completed all of the exercises in your book. I am 70 years young and convinced that reading your book has helped me become even more successful. I am not too old to learn from your wonderfully written book.”

Brian Eastwood AUSTRALIA

“I very much enjoyed your book! Your exercises in the book transformed me from someone who was hoping to succeed, to someone who now expects to succeed. What a difference you have made in my life.”

Suzanne Alexander CANADA

“Your book was amazing. I want to create my own destiny and reading your book and hearing you speak was my first step. I was impacted by your energy and passion.”

Maggie Williams UNITED STATES

“May I tell you that you have written a fantastic book and it is helping me in many ways. I am at a stage in my life where I am searching for my destiny and your book has helped me better define my future.”

Dan Hodges UNITED KINGDOM

“I have read all kinds of books that have encouraged me to create my own destiny, but none have worked until I read yours. I am now energized and moving full speed ahead all thanks to your destiny message.”

Dennis Ofori-Asiedu GHANA

“Your book and CD set have really helped me launch my career. You have provided solutions for me that I could not have learned on my own. I hope to meet you one day.”

Ohansi Gilbert Okafor CAMEROON

“Your quote—‘Only those who can see the invisible can achieve the impossible. The belief in your vision holds the key to creating your own destiny’—has helped me catapult my business to the next level.”

Chis Igwe FRANCE

“Patrick you are a very inspiring speaker and your book is an incredible gift to mankind. Thanks for helping me through some difficult career choices. I recommend your book to anyone who wants more out of life.”

Akio Minami JAPAN

“I found your book to be very practical. It is like a summary as to how to live a successful life. It is like a life manual. I could not put it down and finished your book in one sitting.”

Sanjay Shinde INDIA

“I must say I found your book to be straight from the heart. I have read many books on goal setting, but found that this particular book definitely hit a chord. Your book is easy to read and I felt as if I could almost hear your voice.”

Jerome Patience SOUTH AFRICA

“After reading your book and seeing you speak, I have been able to claim a new mantra: I am focused, organized and making lots of money! Why? Because you have taught me for whom I really work—my family!”

Jan Zufelt UNITED STATES

Copyright © 2010 by Patrick Snow. All rights reserved.

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. Published simultaneously in Canada.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone], or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, [phone], fax [phone], or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Snow, Patrick, 1969-

Creating your own destiny : how to get exactly what you want out of life and work / by Patrick Snow.

p. cm.

eISBN : 978-0-470-59571-8

1. Self-actualization (Psychology). 2. Self-realization. 3. Job satisfaction. 4. Success. I. Title.

BF637.S4S654 2010

650.1—dc22

2010003216

To my beautiful wife, Cheryl: Thank you for being so supportive of me in my many endeavors over the years! I appreciate you sticking with me through the good times and bad.

I love you dearly!

To my children, Samuel and Jacob: You are the reason that I work so hard. This book is written for you. I hope that long after my time, you and your children will benefit from this destiny message.

I love you both!

To my parents, Jack and Lois Snow: You are the best parents a child could ask for. I have become the person I am today because of you both. Thank you for all the positive words of encouragement that you have so kindly spoken to me my entire life . . . I was always listening! I have benefited not only from all that you have given me, but also from all that you could not.

I love you both!

To you, the reader: It is my honor and privilege to help you discover, create, and achieve your destiny!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to recognize and thank the following people for their support, encouragement, and belief in my dreams. I would also like to thank all of those listed here who have helped me with this book and my speaking career:

Kevin Allen, Robert Allen, Dave Beauchamp, Les Brown, Mike Bumpers, Corey Burkes, Bryan Caplovitz, Bettina Carey, Taylor Clark, Kathi Dunn, Brent Duskin, Bob Erdmann, Shannon Evans, Susan Friedmann, Rick Frommer, Mark Victor Hansen, Mary Heim, Michael Helgeson, TJ Hoisington, Matthew Holt, Dan Janal, Jerry Jenkins, Cindy Johnson, Charlie Jones, Paul Kadillak, Peter Knox, Jabez LeBret, Eric Lofholm, James Malinchak, Jeannine Mallory, Og Mandino, Jennifer Manlowe, Bill McCarrick, John McLelland, Albert Mensah, Art Mortell, Larry Olsen, Professor Jack Padgett, Jim Ploeger, Tim Polk, Dan Poynter, Anthony Robbins, Jean Schroeder, Shiloh Schroeder, Margaret Snow, Molly Snow, Tim Snow, Tom Snow, Christine Tew, Norm Thomson, Tyler Tichelaar, David Torres, Brian Tracy, Graham Van Dixhorn, Rob Van Pelt, Tobin Van Pelt, Shannon Vargo, Tony Wall, Jim and Barb Weems, Mary West, Mike West, Chris Widener, Zig Ziglar, and Beth Zipko.

FOREWORD

When I began my career—uneducated, unskilled, and often unemployed, all I could get were jobs that involved labor—washing dishes, construction work, and even digging wells on farms and ranches.

Then I began to ask, “Why is it that some people are more successful than others?” This question changed my life. As I began to seek the answer; asking successful people for advice, reading countless books and articles, listening to audio programs, and attending seminars, the light began to go on for me.

What I discovered was that successful people think differently than ordinary people do. Successful people are more positive and optimistic, more forward-looking and constructive, more focused on their goals and objectives. Successful people accept complete responsibility for their lives. They never complain, never explain. If they’re not happy with their life situation, they go to work to change it; they don’t wait for someone else to come along and do it for them.

Successful people have clear, written goals, and every day, they follow systematic plans to achieve these goals. Successful people use their time well. They focus on their most valuable tasks, and discipline themselves to get started and to keep going. As a result, they’re able to achieve five, even ten, times as much as the average person ever accomplishes.

In this powerful book by Patrick Snow, you’ll learn all these strategies, methods, and techniques, and many, many more. A passionate and inspiring speaker, mentor, and publishing coach, Patrick has spent many years drinking at the well of knowledge and success, and has extracted and distilled some of the best and most practical ideas on leadership and achievement the universe has to offer.

In Creating Your Own Destiny, Patrick provides you with a practical and easy-to-follow blueprint that will enable you to accomplish more in the next year or two than most people are able to do in five or ten years, or even in an entire lifetime.

When you follow the formulas and strategies in this book, you’ll discover how to leverage your talents and abilities and get more out of yourself and life. You’ll learn how to decide exactly what you want, describe and write it down, and make plans for accomplishing that.

You will learn how to acquire the specific knowledge and skills needed to achieve any goal you set for yourself, your family, or your business. You’ll learn what it takes to become a success—and you’ll do it faster and easier than you ever thought possible, no matter where you are today or where you might have started.

Through this book, you will learn that you are the primary moving force in your life. You create your own reality with your thoughts and you have complete control over those thoughts. Let Patrick Snow show you how to jump on life’s fast track and put your foot on the accelerator to your own potential.

So put up your tray table, fasten your seatbelt, and get ready for an exciting journey into the first and last frontier—your own mind. You may never be the same again!

Brian Tracy CEO, Brian Tracy International www.BrianTracy.com

INTRODUCTION

Breaking Free

Your heart is born free; have the courage to follow it.

—William Wallace1

As I have marketed and promoted this book, I have come to the realization that many people do not believe it is possible to create their own destiny. You will learn from reading this book I am not one of those people. I wrote this book to assist you in stretching your mind to consider what is possible in your life.

My goal is to offer strategies, resources, and tools to convince you that, despite the current adversities and obstacles in your life, you can indeed create your own destiny. Let’s start this journey of self-exploration together by asking a few very important questions. Your answers to these questions will send you on a personal quest to seek the truth in your life, setting you free to pursue your destiny. Taking action on the answers to these questions will give you a life of happiness, freedom, and prosperity.

Are you unhappy at work? Do you want more out of life? Do you want to experience true freedom? Are you really free? Are you doing each and every day what your heart is calling you to do in both your professional and personal life?

I speak in front of thousands of people every year, and when I ask that question very few people raise their hands. Why? Most people aren’t free. They’ve become slaves to their job or their life circumstances. They struggle with the things one “must” do: paying off credit card debt, working a full-time job (or even two jobs), taking evening classes, supporting their families and raising children, living from paycheck to paycheck, making monthly mortgage payments, and so on.

Even successful people aren’t immune from believing they’re “trapped.” Most people I know who make a lot of money become slaves to that financial success. The more they make, the more they spend, and the more money they need to make. I come from a modest middle class family and I’ve achieved financial successes far greater than most people. At times, I have also severely struggled financially and not known where my next paycheck was coming from. My faith in God has helped me overcome many adversities. I have learned that money in and of itself doesn’t make you free.

Over the course of a dozen years, I have interviewed thousands of disgruntled and unhappy employees across North America and learned that we all want the same thing: we all want more out of life. Most people basically want six things: more time, more money, more freedom, more health, more love, and more happiness. How then, can each of us get more out of life and recapture, as William Wallace said, our heart, “born free”?

I believe we become free when we create and then follow our destinies.

What is destiny? Webster’s Dictionary defines the word as meaning fate. Look up fate in the dictionary and you’ll see that it means the supposed force that predetermines events. I believe that this “supposed force” is your mind (or brain).

If we use our minds properly by taking action and executing our ideas and the opportunities presented to us in the way that we are capable of, then we truly can become the “supposed force” that predetermines the events that occur in our lives. To me, destiny means the ultimate purpose (fate) each of us has here on earth. Destiny is what each of us, as unique individuals, is put here on earth to do; to become. Our destinies reside within us. Destiny is our freedom, the great potential we have, the “supposed force” waiting only for our minds to unleash it.

By the end of this book, I believe that you will be able to discover your destiny. You will also learn how you can apply my ultimate Destiny Secret for life. This secret will show you how to achieve what the subtitle of this book promises:

“How to Get Exactly What You Want Out of Life and Work.”

I know what many of you may be saying: I can’t influence my destiny. My job sucks. I’m worried about being laid off. My boss is an idiot. My credit card bills and student loans are too high. My credit score is too low. Or, I have to work two jobs just to pay my rent or mortgage—and I can’t even think about saving for the down payment on a house like my parents owned while I was growing up. That’s wrong thinking. Regardless of how bad your current circumstances are, you can influence your own destiny. You can shape it, make it real. I’m going to show you how in this book, Creating Your Own Destiny. Through this book, you will learn how to dream again. I will show you how to plan and execute to fulfill your dreams. As a result, you will soar for the rest of your life.

Still not certain? I don’t blame you—believing we can influence our destiny requires huge thinking and an even bigger amount of belief. But each of us can think, right? Each of us can believe, right? Right. Each of us can positively influence our fates. As Robert Ringer stated in his book, Million Dollar Habits:

“When your mind believes something to be true, it stimulates your senses to draw to you the things, people, and circumstances necessary to convert the mental image it houses into its physical reality.”2

I believe this is how you create your own destiny. Your dreams can come true. As Earl Nightingale said:

“You become what you think about.”3

Another thing often holds people back in the pursuit of their dreams: fear. Following your dreams can be scary. You might be rejected. It will take hard work. There will be obstacles along the way. But you must risk pursuing your dreams to become free. You will learn a strategy to put your fears aside once and for all.

I’m going to encourage you to pursue the biggest dreams possible, the most (seemingly) impossible things. Why? I strongly believe what T.S. Eliot said:

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go!”4

This book contains four sections and 16 chapters that will help you create and realize your destiny—I firmly believe it will allow you to have more time, more money, more freedom, more health, more love, and more happiness. I call these 16 chapter headings my Success Road Map.

This road map was developed to show you how to be courageous in your endeavors and proceed in the manner in which you are truly capable. There is a saying by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

“Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”5

You can blaze a new trail. This book will be your compass and help guide you along the way.

Before we begin, I think it’s important that you know that all the material here was developed through my life experience, which includes reading more than 1,000 self-help books, working more than 15 years in corporate sales, being a publishing coach, giving more than 1,500 speeches worldwide, and, most importantly, being a son, husband, and father.

Please know that this book is more than just my thoughts and suggestions. What you are holding right now is one of my dreams come true. I believe that my destiny is, among other things, to help people overcome their personal fears and adversities to “set their hearts free.”

I also believe that there is no such thing as a completed education. Education is a lifelong process. In fact, I believe that I can learn as much from you as you can from me. There is so much yet for me to learn—this is one of the reasons I enjoy reading. I challenge you to become a lifelong learner and open your mind to the new ideas, strategies, and techniques offered in this book and many others.

I want to challenge you to think like a world champion. If you knew that under no circumstance could you fail, what would you want to do with the rest of your life?

I know what some of you may be thinking: Patrick, achieving dreams is easy for you. You’re successful, have all this great experience, plus you have a wonderfully successful and supportive wife and two great kids. But I, on the other hand, am too young (or too old) and too broke and inexperienced to accomplish great things.

Whether you realize it or not, I am more like you than you might think. I have been a “struggling underdog” my entire life and only recently have experienced the realization of my vision. I am not there yet. I am a work in progress. I continue to fight like hell to achieve my goals. On the other hand, if you have already arrived, then there is no reason for you to continue reading this book. If you are like me and continue to experience adversity, then let’s move forward together in pursuit of our destinies.

I sincerely believe that if I can work toward achieving my destiny, anyone can! Anyone—I repeat anyone—can influence and enhance their destiny. What’s more, let me say this: I believe you have what it takes to influence your destiny. How do I know this? I was once in your shoes, feeling apprehensive about following my dreams.

Also, the fact that you’re taking the time to read this material and apply the ideas and suggestions tells me that you have what it takes to reach your destiny. And finally, every negative can also be a positive. You may believe you are too young, or too old, but think about it this way: You have the benefit of a fresh start with each new day. You have your whole life ahead of you to accomplish great things. Now is the time to get started moving in the right direction.

I want to help you. I will be your coach along the way, your guide, your confidant. If I can do it, so can you. I believe in you. Think about what author, Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winner Pearl S. Buck said:

“The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible, and achieve it generation after generation.”6

Now consider this quote from Julius Caesar:

“For lack of training, they lacked knowledge. For lack of knowledge, they lacked confidence. For lack of confidence, they lacked victory.”7

In Creating Your Own Destiny, I am going to give you the training, knowledge, and confidence to win in your own game of life.

Finally, as you begin this book, consider the following words from Oliver Wendell Holmes. They reveal the tremendous power of our minds as we continuously grow:

“Man’s mind once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.”8

This book will help you uncover new ideas, get out of your box, expand your comfort zone, and help you pursue the things you love in life. Additionally, you will learn to overcome rejection and put aside your fears as you pursue a new direction in life. I wish you well on your new journey in pursuit of creating your own destiny. Are you ready to begin? Good—let’s go!

SECTION ONE

DREAM

The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.

—Frank Lloyd Wright1

CHAPTER 1

Visualizing Your Dreams

Tell everyone what you want to do and someone will want to help you do it.

—W. Clement Stone1

People who are successful in all areas of life—in their faith, family, business, sports—share a common trait: the ability to look into the future and visualize exactly what they want to accomplish. Here’s what St. Augustine said about visualization:

“Faith is believing what you do not see. The reward of faith is to see what we believe.”2

Why is vision so important? Being able to visualize what it is that you want to do or accomplish paints a mental picture in your mind. Ever heard of the phrase, “Seeing is believing”? I’m sure you have. When we can “see” something, even in our minds, we’re much more likely to make it happen. Another way to think of this is by what author Alex Morrison once said:

“You must clearly see a thing in your mind before you can do it.”3

Let me tell you one way how visualization has changed my life: I grew up the fourth of five kids in Owosso, Michigan, 90 miles northwest of Detroit. My father was a teacher; my mother a nurse. I was blessed with a loving childhood. I also was encouraged to pursue any worthy goal that I wanted.

Well, at an early age I decided I wanted to play professional football! I can remember as a young child watching the Pittsburgh Steelers win multiple Super Bowls. I used to put my number-32 Franco Harris jersey on my black lab, Bear, and then practice my tackling techniques—although mostly what I did was chase Bear around our backyard in the snow!

I was always small for my age but that didn’t stop me. I quickly began to live by former Alabama football coach Bear Bryant’s words (which I still believe to this day):

“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog.”4

I went out for the football team in the fourth grade and was very lucky to receive some great coaching all the way through high school. Even though most of the time our high school had very average teams, my senior year I led the team in tackles, interceptions, and fumble recoveries; was named Most Valuable Player; and also was selected as first-team all-league linebacker.

Looking back on this time, I must say that this was no honorable feat since my senior year we sucked and finished 0-9. To make matters worse, on Halloween night in 1986, both our team and the opposing team had the same dismal record: winless at 0-8. Well, not only did we lose this game (named the “toilet bowl” by our few loyal fans), we lost in double overtime. Talk about a humbling experience. I learned that night that life is not fair and it never has been. I am sure that you can think of times in your life when you worked really hard for something and still fell short of your goal. The point is that we need to learn from our disappointments and move on by developing a “next” philosophy. In sales, I refer to it as, “Some will, some won’t, so what, next.”

My high school football earned me financial assistance to Albion College, a small Division III school in Southern Michigan, between Detroit and Chicago. It wasn’t the University of Michigan or Notre Dame, but I was convinced that I could continue to develop my football abilities and eventually make it to the pros. I could see it in my mind, so I knew that it could happen. But something happened during my freshman year at Albion, something that would change the course of my life forever.

Before training camp, I was so eager to make a good impression on the coaches that I over-trained. Several of my rib heads would “slip out,” that is, become dislocated from my spine. A trainer would easily pop them back in, so I continued to practice with the team for almost ten days. But things got worse as training camp progressed. We were practicing four times a day. At times I thought I couldn’t breathe, the pain was so bad. Also, I couldn’t raise my arms above my head. But I kept on, because football was my life.

And then, just like that, my football career was over. I finally listened to the team doctors who said that no amount of rehabilitation could prevent the injury from recurring. At first I was devastated. My dream since the fourth grade was gone, dissolved in an injury that couldn’t be stopped from happening again and again.

Fortunately, I was taking a philosophy class. One of the assigned books in particular fascinated me: Man’s Search for Himself, by Rollo May. The plot of this book, in a nutshell, is very similar to the William Wallace quote in this introduction: “We are all born free.” However, if we don’t act upon this freedom by cutting the psychological umbilical cord to our parents early in life, we will only go so far. To think of this another way, we’ll be tied like a dog on a chain in the front yard, only being able to go as far as the length of the chain allows us.

Once I understood this concept, I knew that my career-ending football injury wasn’t an ending at all—it was a beginning. I was free to go anywhere, to create a new vision for my life, to do new things. With the help of Rollo May, I learned that there were bigger things in life for me than the game of football.

My back injury gave me a chance to start over again; to pursue a new set of goals. Two of those goals were to become an inspirational speaker and published author while pursuing a career in the field of personal growth and development to help others succeed.

EXERCISE

Can you think of a time in your life that seemed to be an “ending”? What were your thoughts, feelings, and emotions at that time?

Did this “ending” lead to a new beginning? What happened?

Of the current challenges you face, are any of them disguised as an opportunity?

A NEW BEGINNING

I knew that I had only decided on Albion College because of my dream to one day play professional football. Now that my college football career had ended, staying at Albion didn’t make sense. I hadn’t yet had time to think much about my future and what I wanted to do, but I knew that I loved the mountains and I wanted to explore the western part of the United States. So I sent an application to the University of Montana and was accepted.

On January 1, 1988, as an 18-year-old college freshman who didn’t know a soul west of the Mississippi River, I jumped on a Greyhound bus with a $69 ticket to Montana. I didn’t know exactly where I was going with my life, but I was confident that I was moving in the right direction.

And do you know what? Transferring to the University of Montana was the best thing that ever happened to me. I not only graduated with a degree in political science, but, more importantly, I met a wonderful woman named Cheryl Monaghan—who later, I’m lucky to say, became my wife!

We now have two boys, Samuel and Jacob, and established careers: Cheryl as a prosecuting attorney for King County in Seattle, and myself with my speaking, coaching, writing pursuits, and a life dedicated to helping others succeed.

Let me say this: regardless of how exciting it would have been to play professional football and maybe even win a Super Bowl ring, it could never equal the love I have for my family. My experience also has led me to be a firm believer that people must never set their sights on only one goal. It’s too limiting. Instead, each of us should create a destiny that we’re moving toward, a series of people and places as well as milestones that we want to accomplish in our lives.

Since I can’t play in the NFL, I have a new goal: to own my own NFL franchise by age 50. How is that for visualizing a dream? I will have to raise close to $2 billion to achieve this vision, but I have roughly ten years to do so. I will be awarded an NFL expansion team. My team will be called the Hawaii Tiger Sharks and will play its home games in Honolulu starting by the fall of 2018. If I can’t get a fan base in Hawaii, then my other plan is to purchase the Seattle Seahawks or start an expansion NFL team in Los Angeles. If you are interested in being a part of this NFL franchise and ownership group, I am currently accepting investment capital at the address listed on my web site. Depending on your thought process, you are either roaring with laughter, or buying into my vision. Either way, these are the kinds of visions that you must develop in your life. Your visions are invisible and possibly unrealistic to others, but they must become visible in your mind and heart so that you can transform the impossible into the probable.

I also have a goal to sell one million copies of this book. I don’t know exactly how I am going to accomplish these goals, but I will write about the how later in this chapter.