“There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth… not going all the way, and not starting.” ~Buddha

A little Birthday Cake for Succcess.org!

Thank you!

It’s now been officially over a year. And, while the activity/posts have not had the frequency I would have liked, I’ve been pleased w/ the content. It’s fairly awe-inspiring to see how many people’s lives are and can be touched by a simple blog. Freaks me out a little to see people in Indonesia and Sweden (for instance) reading posts here. I think that is terrific! For the year we’ve averaged almost 10,000 unique visitors a month. Small by BIG blog standards but substantial nonetheless and the emails and comments are always encouraging and / or entertaining.

So, what is the great lesson I’ve learned after one year of blogging? First, I almost can’t believe I just said/typed that. I never could have foreseen blogging would be in my future or a book for that matter. So, having said, that the first lesson I guess is remain OPEN to all opportunities and possibilities. Second, START - do something - take action because you will learn something as a result of the attempt. You may even learn whatever it is isn’t what you want to do, but that is valuable. What tends to happen is that first action - the START leads you in unique and wonderful directions and opens new paths the would have never existed had you not just begun. Remember, he who hesitates is lost.

Thanks for the support!

~MWS

Time may be the ultimate illusion but in the final analysis it’s is all we have. Consider that without it there literally is nothing else, not within our perceivable, physical realm. And with it, seemingly all possibilities exist.

Yet how people “manage”  their time is ultimately what separates those who achieve their ideal future - their success, and those who don’t. On the most basic level, “success” becomes a derivative of time management. But, the question is; do high achievers really “manage” their time or more… »

Now that The 3 C’s of SUCCCESS is selling on Amazon; honest, quality reviews are requested and welcomed. Even if you’ve only downloaded and read the FREE version, (yes, there are a few of you) please consider taking a few minutes to share a review. Feedback is the breakfast of champions as Ken Blanchard likes to say.

more… »

Brilliant. astounding, outstanding and remarkable

There aren’t enough superlatives for MAN ON WIRE!

Things have been a little busy lately - and wanting to get to this “review’ / post since I saw this movie well over a month ago! Man on Wire is incredibly entertaining movie and not just for the never-to-be-repeated, remarkable feat itself (tight-rope, in this case wire-walking from one World Trade Center tower to the other) but, also, for its direction, production, and original footage.

I happened to see this movie (wifee’s recommendation) just before the Academy Awards (no surprise it won for best documentary).  The story features Phillipe Petit and his mission to realize his life’s dream of walking a tight rope between the two world trade towers. The brilliance from a production standpoint is the reenactment is interspersed with some fantastic original footage.  But, what makes the movie truly so powerful and riveting is the UNDERLYING THEME. more… »

Success is the peace of mind which is the direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing that you made the effort to become the best at what you are capable of becoming.”

~ John Wooden

Whether you like basketball or even know what a basketball is — chances are you will love this man! At 98, John Wooden is still regarded a quick wit and sage to many players, coaches and friends seek his friendship and counsel. To give you a little flavor, this from the same article referenced above.

“When asked about the keys to successful aging, Coach was quick to respond: stay busy, stay active, enjoy every day like it is your masterpiece, have some variety and try to learn something new every day,” Castel said. “One of Coach’s famous quotes, ‘When I am through learning, then I am through,’ illustrates his lifelong commitment to learning.

“Make everyday your masterpiece!?” I almost let the brilliance of that comment escape me. It sounds too cliché, right? “Make everyday your masterpiece.” Wow! That is super powerful. If I could only possess that type of presence, that type of awareness - to make each encounter, each moment of each day a masterpiece. In order for each day to be a masterpiece, each moment would have to be a masterpiece. By definition that is what a masterpiece is right? All pieces/component parts masterfully interwoven to produce magnificence? I ask you, just what affect would that have on my life’s outcome? more… »

Stanford Commencement Address 2005.
Mr. Steven Jobs; Monster-Entrepreneur, Apple & Pixar CEO, Super-Hero Extraordinaire

“Life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forward.” ~Kierkegaard

Every time I see this speech I’m awed by the number of gems Steve shares. I find it interesting to overlay these anecdotes against the backdrop of my personal experiences. His tales of opportunity, following his heart, continuous learning, failure, humility, and of course, mortality are both profound and inspiring.

However, I ask you, “How unique are they?” Just how rare are these “coincidences?”

The question I encourage you to ask is, “where are the parallels?” Surely you recognize you don’t have to be CEO of a couple fortune 500 companies to notice that, ultimately, the song remains the same; that these synchronistic events happen daily for everyone. The real question is not, “how rare is this?” But rather, “How aware am I to the events and all the possibilities?”

Think about it. more… »

“Youth is wasted on the young.”
~ George Bernard Shaw

With all the excitement about Michael Phelps in the media recently, I felt it was a good time to jump in, but not necessarily pile on. If, for some reason you haven’t heard, Phelps was photographed with his face half-way down a water pipe (bong), less than ideal if you’ve just brought back a record eight Gold medals for your country and you have endorsements that total into the multi-millions.

My take on this is fairly straightforward - one very stupid decision. Having said that, the general public has absolutely no more… »

photo: mws, bali 06:  post: mitch w. steel

“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set.”

~ James Allen, As a Man Thinketh

I’ve written quite a bit about what I believe success to be, that is - CREATING YOUR IDEAL FUTURE. That definition to me describes simply and succinctly exactly what successful people do. It’s also the definition I’ve humbly offered readers of “The 3 C’s of Succcess”. The point being if you don’t know what your definition is or where you are heading, the likelihood of you reaching your intended target - your success, is near impossible! If you’ve missed that post click here or you can find it in the “The 3 C’s” eBook (to your left).

Having said that, it’s my great pleasure to turn Succcess.org readers on to Philosopher Notes, a tremendous service/product and website more… »