Your business (your income) can grow only to the extent you grow.

The reality is that most people don’t reach their full potential – and in fact, 80% will not reach the level of financial success they want.

Why? Because in business, as in life, most people don’t act – they react. As Harv Eker says in his book, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, “Most people are unconscious. They are asleep at the wheel”. Unfortunately, most people acknowledge only what they can see and address success – and their livees– on a superficial level. They live strictly in the "visible" world.

So, WHO are you? What do you think about yourself? How confident are you in your abilities and talents? Who are your mentors – who do you look to for inspiration? How much do you trust others? What is your “perseverance quotient”? In other words, how well do you act when you aren’t in the mood, in spite of inconvenience, discomfort or fear?

Your character, the way you think and what you believe are key determinants in your ability to succeed.
In the past, I’ve used the iceberg analogy to describe this principal: the theory that the visible part of an iceberg represents five percent of it's total size; the other 95 per cent remains invisible beneath the water.

Knowledge or technical skills are no longer enough for success in today's world. These represent the mere 5%, or the "tip of the iceberg" of today's needed competencies. Keeping with the iceberg analogy, where "skills" and "knowledge" are "above the water line", deeper competencies such as "core motivation" and "self-concept" are usually hidden beneath the surface, yet exert enormous influence over daily behavior. It is these deeper, enduring competencies for which it is more important to identify and select.

Therefore, if you wanted to effect change in an iceberg – or your business, profession or life - wouldn’t you agree it would be a better to work on improving the invisible 95%?

In his book, Eker uses a different, easy-to-understand analogy; a fruit tree. Imagine trying to improve the fruit a tree produces by focusing on the fruit already hanging. If you want the tree to produce better quality, larger, sweeter tasting fruit; you need to work on what’s not visible – the roots.

If you want to grow your income, increase your external success – invest some time on your internal growth. Trust me. As humans, we’re part of nature, not above it. When we align ourselves with the laws of nature or, as Napoleon Hill taught, Universal Laws, our lives unfold more smoothly. When we don’t, it gets rough.

Until next time, Be Bold – It starts with a Bold Vision.

PS - On February 21 I'm leading a workshop I named "The 5 Principals to Your Best Year Yeat in Business with Balance". It will be from 8:30 to 11:30 in my office in South Portland. The cost is $139 and participation is limited to 8. If you're interested send me an email: lynnelle@BoldVisionConsulting.com or visit our website; www.BoldVisionConsulting.com

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