Week 11

WEEK ELEVEN

Hello and welcome to Week Eleven of the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan. We hope you are having an excellent week! This is a great time to embrace change, opportunity and hopefulness. If you are like me, your ambition to: a) get caught up on the past b) handle the present c) launch into the future may be getting the best of you if, and I say if, you tend to get a little impatient. It is hard to get it all done in a short period of time (especially if your eyes are extremely big!). But again, remember we're running a marathon where the ultimate goal is overall improvement and success in the major areas of our lives. And just like compound interest, the slow but continual steps toward your predetermined goals will come more clearly into focus each day. On the other hand, if you're not engaged in the above process of: a) cleaning up the past, which releases additional time and energy (it's amazing how quickly time and energy once spent cleaning up unfinished projects can be redirected and invested into accomplishing much more productive and rewarding pursuits and goals) b) doing the daily activities (this prevents less cleanups of item a) above and keeps you from having to pay the penalties of neglect) c) engaging in your future (this is where the biggest prize is, only 3-5% are able to make the future investments of time and planning in the midst of doing their very necessary daily activities) then by all means start the process. A little bit does make a difference. It is the first step that creates the momentum to make the next step. The act alone of engaging in steps a, b and c is the critical beginning place, in spite of how long or far the journey may seem. It's the consistent and steady movement in the right direction that makes the small incremental investments fairly painless and also creates the confidence and excitement to be truly self-motivated and driven toward your ultimate goals and purpose. Take the First (or Next) Step and Make it a Great Week! Kyle

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H HEEA ALLT TH H Jim Rohn's Third Pillar of Success: Health, Part Two – Emotional Health Hello, Jim Rohn here. We're covering a very important topic this month. When we look at health we are looking in the context of humans consisting of three distinct parts or layers: the Body (the physical nature), the Soul (the mind, will and emotions), and the Spirit (the part of us that transcends this world and communes with God). The inner layer, or core, is our spiritual life. This is what gives us the foundation for living and provides the strength we need for everything else. The second layer is our Soul. This is the part of us that is “intangible.” You can’t touch it but it is there. And not only is it there, but it is what drives most of who and what we are! Then finally, the last layer is our Body. This is simply the actual physical shell that houses our soul and spirit. All of these are intricately connected and do affect each another. We cover these three layers in four different parts this month: 1. Spiritual Health – Last week we looked at the benefits and importance of developing a vibrant spiritual life and some easy methods to apply that can help take your spiritual life to a deeper level. 2. Emotional Health – The mind, will, and emotions. This week, we will cover the importance of a healthy soul – specifically the mind, the will and the emotional aspects of life. We will look at how our inner person is so vital to making sure we live the kind of life we desire. We will learn how our emotional life can become healthy, strong and lively. 3. Physical Health – Nutrition. In Week Twelve we begin a two-part look at the body and physical health. At that time, we will concentrate on the area of nutrition. It is very important to make sure that we fuel our body properly because our body gets its energy from the foods we eat, just as a vehicle runs off of the fuel we put in it. If we put the wrong kind of fuel into our body, it will not run properly. If we put the right kinds of foods in, it will run like the strong engine of an expensive sports car! 4. Physical Health – Exercise. In Week Thirteen we will look at the very important area of exercise. This is the area that most people initially think of. “I need to exercise”, is the first thought that occurs to them when thinking of health. And this is true, we do need exercise, and two weeks from now we will take an even more in-depth look at this important topic. This week our focus is on the second aspect, Emotional Health.

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As I think through this idea of Emotional Health, the issues of dealing with the “intangible,” or the soul, three main areas are clear: the mind (intellectual), the will, and the emotions. These three unique facets make up the inner life of humans and are a major driving force in who we are, what we do and what we accomplish. So let’s take a deeper look. The Mind. The mind may very well be the most amazing thing ever created. The vast depth and breadth of what the human mind can do and comprehend is simply incredible. Think of it, every invention or human creation started as a single thought in someone's brain. The ideas, the thoughts, the calculations – all fantastic! There might be some who would argue that a more amazing feat is the computer, but it was a collection of human minds that conceived, developed and implemented the computer. Computers run based on how the human mind determines they will run; they are programmed by people! When a new baby is born, their mind is basically undeveloped. It is only developed as input and training are given. When we are children, although our eyes and ears automatically pick things up and process them, we are primarily trained and taught to think and process by our parents. They determine much of our input and give us our start. Slowly but surely we learn how the world works, how to think and how to process information. And as we continue to grow, we begin to think in deeper ways, develop critical thinking skills and eventually are able to go beyond the concrete and into the abstract. This is all part of the natural process of mental development. Initially our parents are primarily responsible for our development during the first years of our lives, for getting us going in the right directions and encouraging us to learn and to love learning. Another reason parenting is the most important job in the world! Eventually though, we are responsible for ourselves and our own learning. We don’t know everything when we turn eighteen as our parents send us out into the world. Much of our success is determined by what we put into our minds once we get out into the world and start making our way. What and how we think determines much of what we are and what we become. This is why it is so important to continually, until the day we draw our last breath, develop our intellect--our minds. This is so important! Because for most people, the learning stops when they get their first job. But imagine what can happen if you kept up an accelerated learning curve the rest of your life. What could you do, what skills would you develop, what unique philosophies would you adopt if you were one of the few who developed an appetite for always trying to find good ideas? Commit today to that exciting process and see where it will take you. (Below Chris will give you some action points that you can follow to develop your mind and intellect.)

“Civilization is the intelligent management of human emotions.” -- Jim Rohn

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The Will. The will is certainly one of the most mysterious and fascinating creations ever! We talk about will “power” and yet many can’t even explain or define it. The will can’t be taken out and poured in a beaker, and yet we know that it exists and is integral to success and achievement. For our definition, we will say the will is that part of us that is the strength of our self-determination. The will is what determines whether we act or not. It is our center of resolve and choice. I believe that the will is something that must be exercised in order to become strong. You can have a weak or a strong will and the determining factor will be how often you use it. And the bigger the ways it is exercised, combined with the frequency with which you use it, will determine how strong it becomes. Those who float with the winds and make few or no decisions will have weak wills. When they need to show willpower they will have none. Those who regularly use their will and exercise it to make good strong decisions will be able to hold fast and be strong and decisive when a major act of the will is needed. Whether it is the power to refrain from something that may not be good for you or the power to choose to do something that you know will be in your best interest but are fearful of doing, a strong, highly-exercised will can carry you through. Let me give you an analogy. If a person works out physically on a regular basis and slowly builds up the amount of weight that they can lift, they will be strong enough to handle a crisis that may call for heavy lifting. If a log falls on the legs of a small child for example, you want someone who is physically strong to be there. A person who is physically weak will be of no help at that moment. You cannot develop physical strength in a moment's time. The same is true with strength of will. It is trained, it is strengthened and it is developed. When you do so, it becomes a powerful force of support in your life for success. (Below Chris will give you some action points on how to strengthen your will.) The Emotions. Emotions... what an incredible weight they carry in our lives. Sadness, fear, joy, anger, love, gratitude, peace, happiness... all of these are part of the almost immeasurable landscape that we call human emotions. From the joy and wonderment of the magical moment of birth to the intense sense of sorrow, regret and loss that can accompany the death of a loved one, emotions are at the very core of our existence. They are what provide the "spice of life" as they say. They are a major piece of what we are and what we become. “Don’t be emotional.” Have you ever heard that? Have you ever said that? The problem with that statement is that it is entirely impossible. We are, by our very nature, emotional beings. We are intended to be emotional. What most people mean when they use that phrase is, “Get your emotions under control.” Now that would be good advice. We are supposed to have emotion. We are supposed to feel things. In my seminars you've heard me teach that our emotions need to be as educated as our intellect because it is important to know how to feel, how to respond and how to let life in so that it can touch us. Our emotions will either serve or master, depending on who is in charge. And when we have our emotions under control, they will be a powerful tool in driving us to accomplish amazing things!

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But the key is balanced emotions. You see, some people are virtually emotionless and that will not serve them well. Emotions can be a powerful fuel for us. The idea is to stay in balance with our emotions; to feel strongly and passionately but not get out of control. We would be wise to measure our emotions and intelligently manage them. You see, the trick is to let our emotions be a key factor in what drives us but not the primary factor; to let our emotions be tempered and balanced with our mind. Think of the unique and powerful blend of emotions, combined with will and intellect that drove some of the major accomplishments of history: The compassion of Mother Theresa drove her to dedicate her life to caring for the poor of Calcutta. The passion of Martin Luther King Jr. drove him to be a beacon of hope and awareness and to help usher in the Civil Rights movement in America in the 1960's. The courage of the allied forces in World War II drove them to stand up to Adolph Hitler and his evil desires of world conquest. There are so many other examples – but the point is clear: Emotions can and should be a vital yet balanced part of what drives us to accomplish great things. Now a word of caution... Unbridled emotion can lead us nowhere and oftentimes much worse; places we don't want to go. But controlled emotions, governed by the will and focused by the mind, are at the heart of achievement and success. Again, Chris will give you some specific action points below to work on with your emotions this week. The emotional life is something to be diligent in your development and care of. If you make it healthy, it will take you farther than you could ever imagine. Until next week, let's do something remarkable! Jim Rohn

“Nine requisites for contented living: Health enough to make work a pleasure. Wealth enough to support your needs. Strength to battle with difficulties and overcome them. Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them. Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished. Charity enough to see some good in your neighbor. Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others. Faith enough to make real the things of God. Hope enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.” -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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Hi, this is Chris Widener and in this section we will take a look at some questions and action points that will help us think deeper about our emotional health!

Q Qu ueessttiioon nss ffoorr R Reefflleeccttiioon n:: Q. Of the three aspects of emotional health, which do you think is your strong point? Which do you think is your weak point? How does your strong point help you the most? In what way can you build up and strengthen your weak point? Your Mind

Your Will

Your Emotions

Q. In regard to your intellectual health (your mind), how would you rate yourself on a scale of one to ten? Even more important...are you growing intellectually? Do you have a plan for expanding growth in your mind through reading and learning?

Q. What books are you currently reading that will help you grow intellectually?

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Q. Do you have a strong will or a weak will? How have you trained your will in the past? What tough choices have you made and how have they made you stronger?

Q. In what areas of your life do you have an easy time exerting your will? In what areas do you have a hard time?

Q. How are your emotions? Is your tendency to be too emotional or to squelch your emotions? In the past, what ways have your emotions gotten the best of you and caused you to do or say something you later wished you hadn’t?

Q. In the past, in what ways have your emotions propelled you to do something valuable?

“If you can keep your head when all around you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, then the world is yours and all that's in it.” -- Rudyard Kipling

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A Accttiioon n SStteep pss T Th hiiss W Weeeekk:: 1. Take some time away by yourself this week to take stock of how healthy you are emotionally. Be very honest with yourself as you evaluate your strengths and weaknesses in the following areas: mind (intellectual), will and emotions. On a scale of 1 to 3 (3 being highest and 1 being lowest), rate your mind, will and emotions. Then note specific steps you can take to improve those areas.

2. Most people have a book that they have good intentions to buy but just haven't yet. If that is you, go to the bookstore in the next couple of days and get it – then read it! If you don’t have time, hit an online bookstore. If you don’t have a book in mind, go to the bookstore ( www.jimrohn.com or www.yoursuccessstore.com ), grab a cup of coffee and hit the stacks to find a book that will stretch you in the coming weeks. If another book isn’t in the plan right now, take a class or go to a seminar. Register soon! List at least 3 books you can begin reading: A. B. C. 3. What is an action you have been putting off? Is it merely an act of the will that is needed? What is a decision you have been neglecting to make? This week, exercise your will by taking that action or making that decision. If you can, make three or four specific acts of the will that will strengthen it for future decisions of major importance. Write them here.

4. As you take time to look at your emotions, specifically answer the question of whether you are too emotional or not emotional enough. The best place for us to be is in balance with our emotions. Perhaps it may even be beneficial to visit with a

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counselor if you have significant issues that have caused you to be out of balance emotionally. Some people consider going to a counselor as a stigma, but in the same way we would go to a doctor for a physical, sometimes it is good to go to a mental health professional for an “emotional.” If you have found that you are a little out of balance one way or the other and that your emotional life may be holding you back from the achievement you desire, now is a good time for an emotional tune-up! Write comments here:

Next week we will cover Physical Health Part Three - Nutritional Health Jim talked about how to be an effective persuader, saying that it is one thing to present, but quite another to persuade. Here are Jim’s top tips for being effective at persuasion: 1. Become a good storyteller. 2. Deal in accurate facts. Do not exaggerate. Exaggeration erodes your self-confidence, your reputation and your effectiveness. 3. Use quotes from others. Let their thoughts and wisdom add to your presentation. 4. Be a straight-talker. Tell it like it is. Challenge people with, “Let’s go do it.” One can put a thousand to flight. Two can put ten thousand to flight. You can change anything starting today. Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion. Teenager Event: Jim Rohn and Kym Yancey Peer pressure. You face it all of your life. Even adults face peer pressure. The question we must all ask is: Who do we listen to? 1. Always be careful about who influences you. 2. Influence can be subtle. 3. Look for positive associations. 4. Sometimes you must disassociate. 5. Sometimes you must limit association. 6. Actively pursue and find good associations.

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Thoughts on unkind words: All hurts will heal. Don’t speak ill of others. You never know the damage it can do. The Ant Philosophy 1. Ants never quit. 2. Ants think summer all winter. 3. Ants think winter all summer – and prepare for it. "In five years you will be the same as you are today except for two things: the people you meet and the books you read." -- Charlie "Tremendous" Jones Jim Rohn’s 3 Key Areas of Personal Development for Teenagers: 1. Goals. 2. Personal Development – be better this year than you were last year. 3. Financial Independence. You must do what you have to as quick as you can so someday you can do what you want to as long as you can. See you next week, Chris Widener

A A LLooookk FFoorrw waarrd d:: This week we will be listening to CD 8 of the New Millennium series. Here are just a few of the incredible things you will learn on this CD: A look forward to CD Eight: • • • • •

Tony Jeary VIP Breakfast Undisclosed Secrets of Success Tips, Techniques and Processes Four Levels of Learning Bob Burg

And More! “95% of your emotions are determined by the way you talk to yourself.” -– Brian Tracy Copyright Jim Rohn International 2002-2004

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N Nootteess ffoorr C hn nN Neew w CD D EEiig gh htt ffrroom m tth hee JJiim mR Rooh M i l l e n n i u m s e r i e s : Millennium series: ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

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