Posts Tagged ‘Personal Development’

“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

P.S. I’ve set up a newsletter to keep you updated with news and inspiration! Please make sure you subscribe and feel free to tell your friends to do the same so they too can receive the messages of positivity

Watch my business partner, Brian Tracy, teach you one of the most effective goal setting techniques!

I recently visited a Gloria Jeans coffee franchise and picked up their loyalty card. I actually didn’t pay any attention to the loyalty card as i’m such a coffee fiend, i have massed various loyalty cards from different establishments over the years. Today however, I was reaching into my pocket and pulled this one out. It had an incredible slogan on it.

Just above the cartoon image of a rather sophisticated looking characature of a coffee bean was the slogan “The road to Success is ALWAYS under construction”

Isn’t that the truth!?

Whilst success is open to interpretation from person to person, the universally accepted definition of success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. In otherwords, we progress towards our ideal of success on a daily basis thus truly making success a journey and not a destination!

Now, whilst this post maybe full of clichés on the subject of success, I want to indicate just why success is a journey and not a destination!

it is said that success happens daily and not in a day. What does this mean? well, too many confuse success with the task of actually accomplishing a goal or an ideal. Now, whilst the end result is often what we see when we look at successful people, the fast cars, the big houses, the fancy designer clothes (if indeed these are your definitions of success), we must look deeper into the person to realise what success is to that person.

I remember hearing motivational speaker and income acceleration coach Pat Messiti once say that average people focus on the fruit whilst successful, world class thinkers focus not on the fruit, nor on the tree that bore it but on the seed!

You see the truly successful understand that it’s not the end result that’s important. Whilst the goal of the end result keeps them motivated and on track. What’s important to successful people is that they are building themselves up and are gearing themselves up for the rewards. They understand that foundations are more important than what you see on the surface.

They are like Icebergs. What you see on the surface of an iceberg is typically 20% at most of the total mass of the ice berg. That means a whopping 80-90% of the ice is actually under the water and that is what makes them so potent! It was the foundation, not the tip of the iceberg that sunk the titanic! - And remember, foundations like that of an iceberg take time to build. Sometimes, you may be going for a goal but feel like you keep missing but if you are working towards a goal and are allowing yourself to learn in the process, your foundations grow and grow until your success will begin to surface above the water and when you tackle the obstacles head on, no matter how large the obstacle is, like the titanic, you will cut through!

So, Remember, the road to success is ALWAYS under construction. Remember you are not the finished article and most likely never will be either! Enjoy the journey

I leave you with with a quote from Melvin Trotter -

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming…Wow! What a ride!”

Until next time, Keep Shining!

Fahad x

One of the questions I’ve been asked  a lot recently is, Fahad, How do you maintain a positive attitude?

Well the truth of the matter is, it takes practice until it becomes a habit!
Developing a positive attitude therefore is not accomlished by reading one book or going to one seminar or listening to something inspiring.

It takes a conceited daily effort to reprogram your mind to be more positive.
From a young age, as soon as we are able to understand things, we’re bombarded with messages. These messages. These messages shape our beliefs and our perceptions. It’s a sad fact then that the average child here’s messages like “No”, “You can’t do that”, “Don’t be silly” etc far more than words of encouragement like “YES!” “You have got what it takes to be the best” and other positively affirming statements.

As we go to school, get exposed to media (Television is a major culprit in programming peoples minds with a negative disposition), News, and negative role models, our attitudes are firmly routed in the ideas that if it can go wrong, it probably will.

There are however, a percentage of the population (albeit a small percentage) who have a different view on the way their world works. Through positive affirmations, surrounding themselves with empowering people and empowering messages and CHOOSING to filter out any harmful, negative messages from their conscious mind before it enters their subconscious. They develop a positive attitude. Rather than looking at the glass half empty, they see it as half full (Or as I say, A glass that needs filling regardless!)

Here are some tips to help you maintain a positive attitude:

1. Take time daily for your own personal development by spending time reading a positive book, listening to a positive audio or film. I personally Read for at least 20 minutes a day from a positive book and in my car, Have a personal development CD in. I also watch High Definition Entertaining tools on the iLearning Global website

2. Practice an attitude of gratitude. When you wake up in the morning be grateful for being given another day. Take some time out thanking the universe or god (your religious of spiritual beliefs are none of my business so just be grateful to whomever you feel fit) for all the good in your life.

3. Be solution focused, not problem focused. We all have issues and obstacles to deal with on a daily basis. This is a fact of life. But it’s not what happens to us that determines our outcomes, it’s how we decide to react. Too many people dwell on the problem and wonder why things aren’t getting better. It’s when you focus on the solution when you feel empowered and make a difference to the situation.

4. Keep the end in mind. A wise man once said, Focus on where you are going to, not on what you’re going through. In other words. Always keep sight of the objective and what you want… focus on the reason why you’ve set out to achieve your goals. If your reason why is strong enough, the obstacles become nothing more then minor speed bumps on the road to your goals.

5. Practice Positive affirmations. One of the best ways to overcome limiting beliefs is the daily practice of repeating positive affirmations to yourself. Positive affirmations are statements written in the present tense that positively reinforce to yourself, anything you wish to enforce! For example. If you want a more positive attitude, you could say to yourself everyday, 3 times a day “I am a positive person, I only look for the good in all situations and I am grateful for all experiences that come into my life for I learn from them and achieve greatness as a result” -
Notice that it’s written as though it’s already happening!

6. Limit your time around negative influencers. This one sounds hard but it really isn’t. You can CHOOSE what you put into your mind so why not CHOOSE positive stuff? Whilst it might sound pretty radical to cut out all negative influencers, you only need to reduce your time watching things like soap operas, news broadcasts, gossiping and hanging around with people who complain and moan most of the time. If you’re around loved ones who love to talk trash or negative, turn the conversation around onto positive notes.

There are many resources on Positive affirmations and I shall be posting articles in the future on them.

finally, one more bonus tip (I love over delivering!) - Meditation is a great way to quiet the mind and focus!

In closing, i’ll share one of my favourite Zig Ziglar quotes with you!

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing - that’s why we recommend it daily.”

Until next time, Keep Shining!

Fahad x

Greetings all.

This week, My cousin’s son posted pictures of cars he’d love to own when he’s older on facebook. They were all top of the range super cars! Lamborghini’s, Aston Martin’s Ferrari’s and other exotic cars. I smiled but then saw the comments on his page.

Now, this little guy is still in school and it amazed me to see some of the negative comments from his peers!
Comments like “You wish!” and “that’ll never happen”…

I could only lend him the following advice,

I told him that it was fantastic that he was aiming so high but to look around him and see how many people he knew actually owned these cars… Then I told him that the chances are, not many. The secret therefore to achieving your goals is to not listen to people that tell you that it can’t be done!

And isn’t that the case with most of the goals we have in our lives? As soon as we go out there and share our goals or work towards our goals, we face a barrage of negative criticism, sometimes even from loved ones!

You know the kind “That’ll never work!” or “What thinks you’ve got the right to do that?” or “I had an uncle who tried that once, he failed, so will you” and sometimes they’re wrapped in kindness but as equally deadly to your dreams and these ones sound like “We’re simple people, just be happy with what you have”! (Now I know the last one actually sounds like okay advice. In fact, an attitude of gratitude is vital however, it should not stop you from dreaming big!)

It reminds me of the story of the little frogs who once had a race up a high tower.

There once was bunch of tiny frogs,…

… who arranged a running competition.

The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.

A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants…

The race began…

Honestly, No one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.

You heard statements such as:

“Oh, WAY too difficult!!

They will NEVER make it to the top.”

or:

“Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!”

The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one…

… Except for those who in a fresh tempo were climbing higher and higher…

The crowd continued to yell

“It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!”

More tiny frogs got tired and gave up…

…But ONE continued higher and higher and higher…

This one wouldn’t give up!

At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who after a big effort was the only one who reached the top!

THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?

A contestant asked the tiny frog how the one who succeeded had found the strength to reach the goal?

It turned out…

That the winner was DEAF!!!!

The wisdom of this story is:

Never listen to other people’s tendencies to be

negative or pessimistic…

ALWAYS be…

POSITIVE!

And above all:

Be DEAF when people tell YOU that YOU can not fulfil YOUR dreams!

So, the next time you have a goal or a big dream, be like the tiny frog and keep on running towards your goal and be deaf to negative criticism!

Until next time, Keep Shining!
Fahad x

Greetings all!

The author of the world famous personal development book; “The Magic of thinking big”, David Schwartz said, “The size of your success will be determined by the size of your belief”!

Sometimes, even though we know we want to reach the next level in our success and we have the blueprint on how to achieve that success, we are let down by our lack of self belief that we can actually achieve the level of success we set out for in the first place.
Often, this is due to our negative programming, fears and past results. It has been well documented that the best way to build self belief is through positive affirmations and to remind yourself of times when you shone and achieved positive results no matter how small they may be.

I love the story shared by my Billionaire mentor, William Bartmann. in 1996, When the Chicago Bulls reigned supreme in the NBA, Bill and his wife put a bid to buy the team for some $200m. During this time, They decided to really spend some time with the team as since they were buying the assets of the club which included its players, it would make sense to know the players.

One of the stars of this team was a misfit by the name of Dennis Rodman. Dennis Rodman as a reputation surrounded by notoriety due to his appearance, covered in tattoos, piercings and changing the colour of his hair every game. His on and off the court antics caught the media attention far and wide but Bill knew the real Rodman and in Rodman’s own words, it was all about marketing himself. Dennis Rodman may have had the bad boy image but you couldn’t deny the camera followed his every move. This spearheaded his career and launched many new opportunities for him.

Dennis was famous for sitting on the bench during the pregame warmups and when he was sitting out the games with a towel on his head and headphones in his ears. He told the media, when he was asked what he listened to, that he listened to his favourite band, Pearl Jam.

What Bill found out one day when sitting next to Dennis was he wasn’t listening to Pearl Jam at all! When Rodman let Bill listen to the headphones, Bill didn’t hear music but what he heard was Dennis Rodman telling Dennis Rodman just how good he was! He would remind himself just how well he performed against the team they were playing the last time! How many points he scored, shots he blocked and rebounds he made. These affirmations fuelled Rodman’s self belief and from this simple story, we too can learn a very valuable and potent method for instilling self belief into ourselves!

Constantly remind yourself of your accomplishments! It’s a great idea, if you have certificates and trophies, to put them around the house to remind yourself of achievements!

Remind yourself of things, Clients you’ve won, Negotiations you’ve successfully made or even simple things like the first time you went out with your husband or wife or partner…

Finally, remember, we are sometimes our own worst enemies and when negative situations occur, it’s not uncommon for us to blame ourselves by telling ourselves how stupid we are etc… When you catch yourself saying that, automatically flush it out be repeatedly telling yourself one simple statement, “Every time and everyway, I get better and better! I learn from my mistakes and am thankful for the opportunity to learn, from now on I will be a faster, stronger and better version of me!”
Until next time,

Stay blessed and Keep Shining!

Fahad x

Greetings all.

Change is a funny thing.

It is the one thing we as human beings get the most uncomfortable with yet, deep down, we know that unless we change, our circumstances will continue to be the same.

Have you ever cought yourself wishing that your circumstances were different? Ever said to yourself, “Man, I wish things would change”?

Of course, wishing for something to be different isn’t going to yield the desired result however, You can change things by first changing yourself. Whoever stated the fact “in order for things to change, first, you must change” was a genius!

You see, everything starts from within. If you want to change your income, your relationships, your job, your neighbourhood, your family or even something bigger, you may want to change your community, your town, your country or even the world! It all starts from the seed of change within you.

This is why I believe that deep inside every human being is MASSIVE potential for greatness. Inside each and everyone of us is somebody who has the capacity to change the world for the better but first we must find and awaken this person from within.

Our capacity as human beings to CHOOSE is what makes us top of the food chain. If you are of the religious or spiritual persuasion then that could be phrased as “we are the greatest creation of a higher power”.

Oh, and by the way, you might notice that I often capitalise the words CHOOSE when I write. This is not by accident, the power of CHOICE is possibly the most powerful thing we have after our thoughts that I cannot stress enough that when you harness the power of CHOICE, You literally have what it takes to change your world and the world of others around you.

They say that success is an inside job. What do they mean? Well, In order for us to yield better, more successful results, we must first change from within, we must better our thinking! After all, Einstein said, “We cannot solve problems with the same kind of thinking which created them”

We must therefore commit ourselves to excellence and CHOOSE to invest in ourselves. Through association, education, personal development etc… Then and only then, can we make the world a better place!

I leave you with this profound inscription that was found on a bishop’s tomb in Westminster Abbey: “When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it, too, seemed immovable. As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it. And now, as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country, and who knows, I may have even changed the world.”

Keep Shining
Fahad x

P.S. A bonus quote… “Be the change you wish to see in the world” - Mahatma Ghandi