from my Book

“How To Be A Positively Powerful Person” 

There is nothing more fulfilling for me than facilitating the breakthrough process for people as they make real what they previously thought and believed was impossible for them. The change is…amazing. They show passion. They exude energy, confidence, and self-esteem. I believe that the world would be a better place if everyone lived their dreams. A dream is a fantasy, a nice idea. A vision is a dream plus the commitment to do what it takes to achieve the vision. It requires action. How can you make your dreams come true – and your vision a reality? Knowing the ten steps is critical to becoming a positively powerful person. All the steps are necessary. They are sequential yet overlapping. Each step is a cornerstone in the foundation of your action plan. The ?It? is your vision. Step One: Imagine It. Step Two: Believe in It. Step Three: Talk about It. Step Four: Commit to It. Step Five: Plan It. Step Six: Enroll in It. Step Seven: Do It. Step Eight: Check It. Step Nine: Complete It. And Step Ten: Celebrate It! If you can dream It, you can achieve It. Believe It. If you don‘t think you have a vision, it is perfectly all right! We all have dreams that we would turn into a vision if we could. Your dreams still exist in your consciousness. All you need to do is awaken them. These few questions will assist you: If I had three wishes guaranteed to come true, I would _____ (Fill in the blank.) Or, my favorite: If I could devote my life to serving others and still have the money and lifestyle I needed, I would successfully be, do, or have__________ (Fill in the blank!)

Here is an over view of each of the steps.

Step One: Imagine It - All success begins with the imagination, which is ?the ability to confront and deal with reality by using the creative power of the mind.? Research indicates that the more details you can imagine and incorporate into your vision, the better. These pictures are part of your mental ?files‘ as you make-believe and see your goals.

Step Two: Believe in It – The most important person to believe in your ability to accomplish your vision is you. The founder of the modern automobile, Henry Ford, said, ?”If you think you can or you think you can‘t, you are probably right.” So believe.

Step Three: Talk about It – Communicate the internal meaning or direction of your vision in an external way. Let‘s say your dream is to have a new home. You deserve it and believe in it. You make it your vision. Using your imaginative power, you begin to see your home–what it looks like, what color it is, how many rooms it has, etc. When you talk about it, you look at blueprints, go online to identify builders, look in magazines to get pictures, share your vision with your family and friends, and visit model homes. By talking about it through language, actions, and other representational symbols of your vision, you sharpen your focus on your vision‘s goals.

Step Four: Commit to It - Commitment is not about thinking, wishing, hoping, trying, or self-sacrifice. Commitment is being bold and bound–mind, body, and spirit–to what matters to you, then declaring it into being. An example of one of the most powerful declarations I ever made was saying ?I do? to my husband on October 10, 1970 during our wedding ceremony. Life changed forever for me from that point on. Those two words were the declaration and demonstration of my commitment.

Step Five: Plan It – After you‘ve committed and declared, the next step is to set your short-term goals and make an action plan. Here you put your attention on your intentions.

Step Six: Enroll in It - You can’t create your vision by yourself. Success is created with and through others. There are three communication skills that will serve you well: Networking which involves creating connective relationships; enrollment, creating partnership in the vision; and alignment, building a harmonious synergistic team. Enrolling is creating value WIIFT — ?what‘s in it for them.? It is one of the highest forms of communication. When Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his speech in Washington, DC and spoke the words, ?I have a dream,? he enrolled men and women of all races in a stand for racial equality—so much so that his vision lived on to empower others. Your ability to enroll others in you/your vision directly influences your outcomes.

Step Seven: Do It – Imagine three birds sitting on a fence. Three decide to fly away. How many fly away? The answer? None. It takes more than deciding, it takes action. Have you ever had a great idea and done nothing about it? Very likely this was the step where you stopped pursuing your vision. All visions happen because of the actions of a positively powerful person with faith.

Step Eight: Check It – A useful mantra I use in speaking about results is that ?you either have the results you say you want, or the reasons, stories, and excuses why not.?

Step Nine: Complete It - Have all of the major success factors been accomplished? This is the time to ask whether there is anything else that you can do in the time you have allowed. If there is do it. Then relax.

Step Ten: Celebrate It! – Completion is not the final step. There needs to be time for celebration. Many people (workaholics, people who don‘t acknowledge themselves) neglect this step as they move on to their next project. Don‘t. You deserve to take time to give yourself positive reinforcement. Give back to yourself and the people that supported you so that there is no burnout from lack of appreciation. They will remember your gratitude…and you will get a burst of renewed energy as a result of celebrating. Congratulations!

Give yourself a pat on the back.While these steps won‘t guarantee success, you now have a plan for your progress. Let me know how I can support you in developing your vision and making your dreams come true faster. Imagine your world then.
Joel Martin, Ph.D. is a motivational speaker, coach, consultant, and training professional. Her newest productions are the Positively Powerful Women Celebrate! Dinner, Awards, And Workshops and Vision eLearning Program dedicated to assisting others with making their dreams come true. To learn how to receive her computer-based programs, books, CDs, The Answer DVD, speaking, or company‘s services, contact Triad West Inc. (480) 563-5585, 9616 East Southwind Lane, Scottsdale, AZ 85262. www.triadwest.com