Posts Tagged ‘Personal Development’

What is it you want?

How do you want to live? What is it that will make you the most happiest… Regardless of where you are right now, the only way you will get to where you want to go is knowing exactly where it is you want to go!

A young Canadian comedian decided to pursue his dream of working in the movie industry and moved to Los Angeles, California. He would often get heckled at comedy clubs and when he would audition for small TV and movie parts, he would simply tell himself he was not good enough. He was now broke from moving to California, lonely and feeling the pain of rejection.
He would take his beat up car to the top of Mulholland drive in LA. A location famous in the movie industry.

On one night he, he decided that the vision he had for himself was that of a successful movie star… his vision saw him take out his chequebook and write a cheque for $10,000,000 for “acting services rendered”. His vision was so clear and he had a burning desire to achieve his vision that despite what others said about his career prospects as an actor in Hollywood, he refused to let other peoples perception of him ruin his vision… 5 years on, this comedian was receiving cheques well in excess of the $10,000,000 he had written out to himself on the top of Mulholland drive… Those cheques were all written out to one Jim Carey.

Regardless of where you find yourself right now, remember, it is imperative that you have a crystal clear vision of where you want to be! Most people haven’t a clue… they think they know but the vision is not a crystal clear one. Remember if it’s a mist in your mind it’s a fog out in the real world.

until next time,

Keep Shining!
Fahad x

The Story of the Pencil

Source: Like the Flowing River by Paulo Coelho

As I write this post, millions of people around the UK are watching 2 people who are making their dreams come true…

The show I’m referring to is the X-Factor, a singing contest that is the UK’s equivalent of American Idol.

This is sadly indicative of how things go… more people would rather watch than do… there are always more spectators than players… which would you rather be?

The truth is that you have something in common with the people who made it trough to the finals of the X Factor and that is you’ve been blessed with more potential than you know what to do with. The only difference is, the X Factor competitors combined that potential with passion and took action to make it happen. When you found that talent inside you that you’ve been blessed with, hone it with practice and work and make it your passion, you’ll be able to become world class!

But it will take commitment. Remember I said that success only cares that you’re 110% committed to it? You have to be the doer and not the watcher! let other people watch whilst you are doing, Let others talk whilst you take action but when all is said and done, you will be closer to achieving your full potential!

As one of the founders of the personal development industry, Earl Nightingale said, Lead the field!

Keep shining!

Fahad x

Greetings all.

Firstly, my apologies for not messaging you earlier. I have been very busy.

I was intending on sending out a message today of positivity however, I am going to send a short message in tribute of the father of modern personal development who today, on the 5th of December, passed away.

He was hailed as the greatest philosopher of our time and Jim Rohn lived his life as an exemplary model of a man who was not only committed to personal success but in also helping others achieve success.

Jim’s message had reached and impacted millions in his lifetime and impacted many to create lifechanging results in their lives whether financially or emotionally. He was highly respected by his peers and all of the great speakers of our time have attributed alot of what they’ve done to knowing Jim Rohn and to study under him.

Jim lost an 18 month battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis and there is a tribute page up on his website which can be found at http://tribute.jimrohn.com

His transition is a sad loss however, we must celebrate the life of a truly great man and make sure his legacy lives on.

At this time, my deepest condolences and thoughts are with Jim’s family, loved ones and close friends.

May he rest in peace.

I leave you now with some of my favourite quotes by Jim Rohn

“Don’t wish it were easier, wish that you were better”

“Success is not to be persued, it is to be attracted by the person you become”

“It is not the direction of the wind but the set of the sail that determines your destination”

“Formal education will make you a living, self education will make you a fortune”

This was sent to me by my friend Remco Verstegen

Desiderata (Latin for “desired things”) by Max Ehrmann

1. Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence.

2. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

3. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

4. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; for they are vexations to the spirit.

5. If you compare yourself with others you may become bitter or vain, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

6. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

7. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

8. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery; but let this not blind you to what virtue there is.

9. Be yourself.

10. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

11. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

12. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune, but do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

13. Beyond a wholesome discipline be gentle with yourself.

14. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here, and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

15. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.

16. And whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, be at peace with your soul. With all its shame, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

17. Be cheerful.

18. Strive to be happy.
Which item do you find most important in your life?

There are, in my opinion, 2 critical reasons why someone would want a “better job”

Number 1. Increased Job Satisfaction
Number 2. Increased income

In a job market which is not exactly the most buoyant, people tend to fall into the mindset of “Beggars can’t be choosers” but I recall hearing motivational ace, Zig Ziglar, once describe how to get a better job.

So let’s analyse the two needs.

Number 1. Job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is a two way street. On the one hand, you want to feel like you’re making a positive contribution to the company you work for and inevitably to the end user and on the other side you want to be treated just and fairly and compensated in kind by your employer.

Job satisfaction also comes fro perusing your passion or purpose.
The first key therefore to Job satisfaction is giving it 100% Bob Proctor often talks about the law of cause and effect. In other words, what you reap, you shall sow. If you are only giving it 60% i your job then you’re going to get back that much in terms of compensation in terms of money and gratitude.

Also, what is it you want to do and why? Knowing why is fundamentally far more important than knowing how. We will never really know how until we know why. So what would your ideal job, career or profession look like to you and why. For example, My ideal profession is to be an internationally renowned speaker and coach because I want to inspire people and make a significant, positive difference in the lives of as many people I meet in my lifetime. I know why and the how tos appear by themselves thanks to the law of attraction.

Number 2 is income. I know we’d all like to make more money! To most people, more money would be added security and living a more comfortable life and it is my belief that you have the right to that comfortable life and have the right to be rich in fact it is another question I get asked regularly and I will cover a brief version of my answer.

To earn more money, you need to work on two things.

The first is your skill set. People pay experts in their field more than they pay a hobbyist or amateur. It is why becoming an expert in your field is so important to the new rich who create vast incomes online or through social media. Your skills will be one of the key factors to your income. As a huge believer in personal development, I also believe that your income is in direct relation to your own personal growth. That is why I cannot stress enough how important it is to invest more time, energy and money into your own education than on your entertainment.

The second key factor is the value of service you offer people. In his book The Answer, author John Assaraf explains the law of compensation. In other words, to increase your compensation you need to increase the quality of the value and service you provide to more people

it goes the same in the case of your job, career or profession. In order to earn more, you must provide more value and to more people. If you do, your employer will see that and you’ll have an ace card to ask for a raise. If they don’t reciprocate in kind, be assured that there are other employers out there in competition with your company who will!

So in summary, as Zig Ziglar once said, If you want a better job, do the best you can on your current job and that is how you get a better job!

Keep Shining

Fahad Maniar

“I’m a pretty tough guy. Are you a tough guy? You look pretty tough. So you’ve just got to keep going on going, even when folks are criticizing you, when you know you’re doing it for other people.”

That’s what US President Barack Obama said when a young fourth grader asked him the poignant question, “Why do people hate you”.

Now, I’m not here to talk about politics but this quote from Obama shouldn’t be taken lightly. In fact, in it is great wisdom. You see, every time you step up and outside from what the masses are doing, you’re immediately open to criticism for not following the normal conventions of society.

Have you noticed that? Perhaps you yourself were criticized for trying to do something which you felt was for the greater benefit not just for yourself but for your family and community yet it seems people will always give stick to those who tend to stand out.

My contention is, when people criticize you for what you’re doing, you’ve hit a nerve within them and expose their own weakness. Ever had a cousin or brother in law give you hell because you decided to start a home based business? Sounds funny but it happens, Believe me (and no not the brother in law, My brothers in law couldn’t be cooler!).But the reason this occurs is you’ve stepped up and taken responsibility for your results and you want to help other. Now they might be too afraid or too lazy to join you or do something themselves so rather than lift you up… they drag you down. Kind of like crabs in a barrel!

One of my business colleagues told me that they never have to put a lid on a barrel of crabs for fear of them escaping. Why? because when one does try to venture out, the other crabs just pull them back down. Has that ever happened to you?

Rejection and criticism are a staple for anybody who decides to go from ordinary to extra ordinary. A business person may face rejection, an athlete pain, a leader criticism but if you know what you’re doing is right by your, your family and by your creator then don’t let anyone get you down.

One thing Thai boxing taught me was you’re going to get hit… hard! And even if you get knocked down, you’ve got to get back up and keep coming forward. Remember what Rocky Balboa said, “It ain’t about how hard you can hit but about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward…”

I leave you with a fantastic quote by Theodore Roosevelt,

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat”

Remember, they’ve never made a statue of a critic so when you know you’re doing the right thing, be tough and keep moving forward!

Until next time,

Keep Shining!

Fahad x

As some of you may know, I broke my hand last week so, not only am I typing this post with one hand slowly, I have a new insight.

Firstly, if you’re wondering how I broke my hand, here’s how! I had a flat tyre so went to jack up the car and as it got to the right height, I felt as though it was loose. I went to check the stability and bam! The jack slipped and the car landed on my hand, trapping me between it and the jack. After I realised I was not going anywhere, I yelled for help and swiftly ended in the hospital with a broken metacarpal (I am immensely grateful it was nothing more serious!)

Moral of that story is always get help if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing

You see, I’m now of the opinion that whatever happens, good or bad, there are lessons to be learned. As the immortal saying by Napoleon Hill goes, “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed on an equal or greater benefit.”  and as I tell people, our job is to find and nurture this seed!
Now, I was in a cast until yesterday. At my hospital checkup, the cast was removed and I was sent home.

I immediately felt vulnerable! I started worrying. How would I sleep? What if I aggravated it and why did the doctors remove it so prematurely? I would find myself in positions which would hurt my hand and felt as though I wouldn’t have gotten in those positions if I had my cast. It then occurred to me just why my cast was taken off… As I moved my fingers and tried to get the movement going, I realised that I could now move my fingers more than when I had my cast on! Having many injuries from my career as a Thai boxer, I knew that it’s important to get blood flowing and movement into injured areas to aid healing.

I realised what the cast had become to me. It had become my comfort zone, an area I felt protected even though it could hinder me from getting to where I want to go. It stopped me from moving to my potential even though I felt protection.

You see, you and I are very similar to this analogy I’m sharing with you. We often get in our comfort zones and feel so protected and comfortable even though it hinders our growth and progression. Sometimes we have to remove the casts we’ve applied to ourselves and even though we may feel vulnerable to begin with, when you know it is imperative to your growth to do so, you will find a new comfort in knowing that you’re on the road to success and in my case, a speedy recovery!

So, in conclusion, what comfort zones are you currently clinging to? What “casts” do you need to let go in order to grow and progress and remember, often times when we stretch ourselves we feel uncomfortable. The secret to progress and success is to not stop and return to comfort but to acknowledge the new feeling and to get acquainted to it to grow!

Until next time,

Keep shining!

Fahad x

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