Implementation System

Did you know that only 5% of the people who attend seminars actually implement the tools and materials successfully into their lives? There’s a movie with John Candy in it and his old Irish mother, who is famous for giving people straight talk. Every time she makes an outlandish remark and people stare at her, she says "Just telling it like it is!" I believe that many people out there are suspecting that these programs and Seminars are not working, and they are exactly right. Lets put it into perspective, for every 1000 people who buy a system, there are 950 people that aren't having success with it. And then there is the one person who made $2,000,000 with the system last year. You know the guy in the front row at the seminars that the seller of the system is always referring to as his Golden Ace. Lets put it more into perspective, at $10,000 for a seminar or program, with 1,000 attendees, that’s $10,000,000 in revenue, which means that $9,500,000 of that capital will never see a return on investment, which means that 950 of the people should have just stayed home, not attended the seminar, and said here is my contribution to get your business up and running. And this is not to point fingers or lay blame to anyone or any system. Just because they aren't working doesn’t mean that the system being sold is not good. However, what it does mean is that the other 361 days a year when we attendees are not at the workshop, there must be an implementation system to maximize the results of the system.

Our Commitment to results is beyond anyone out there and this is why we created iEvolution in the first place, and not only are we committed to everyone’s results, but we are also committed to all of us living more fulfilled lives and that is why we created the ongoing discussion group on "The Entire Secret." You will be excited to hear that we have created an implementation system and a curriculum for "The Entire Secret" course. That’s right, we actually have created an implementation system, around our course work ,that scientifically shows you, that if you implement 90% of your plan, you will get 94% of the result. We will be introducing an overview of this NEW program on this Friday's Conference call. The Creator of the system is the Servant, the Collaboration of the Group is KING! Email us if you would like to participate in any of the upcoming Complimentary iEvolution Calls. We have two this Friday, Back to Back!

Personality Test

"When you develop yourself to the point where your belief in yourself is so strong that you know that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to, your future will be unlimited."
— Brian Tracy

I would echo Brian's thoughts and add that when we develop ourselves and UNDERSTAND ourselves to where our belief is so strong, our future will be unlimited.

In order to UNDERSTAND ourselves better here is a FREE personality test for all of you to complete. I found the results of this test quite intriguing and there is not a profile that I haven't taken all the way from the KOLBE to the DISC profile. It will ONLY take 7-10 minutes. Take it NOW!

FREE personality assessment: (Great for anyone you know.)

Be Generative

After spending the last 10 years in the Financial Services business, I've observed that our clients and peers are constantly being bombarded with ideas to improve their financial situation, when we should be providing them with ideas of how to improve all areas of their lives. We spend all this time sending them updates on how the markets are doing, and I suspect that if that's what they were really interested in, they would have gotten into our business for themselves. In fact, the more I interact with people in the Financial Services arena, the more I realize that they're not interested in the markets or statistics either, they're more interested in living an enriching life. If the Sea is the divine life, why take the outlet to the Sea, when we can go directly to the source. We would be presumptuous to believe that our peers and clients still aren't asking that everlasting question, "What am I going to do with my Life?" We're never too old to come up with new answers and inspire new passion in the ones we care for most. Take a few moments and help your peers and clients discover their 'purpose in life' or what the Yogis call 'Dharma.'

Day 40 of PURPOSE – What is the Meaning of Life?

-One of our members just sent me an email attached with a quote by, Ralph Waldo Emerson, "What lies behind us and what lies in front of us....pales in significance when compared to what lies within us." I can't imagiine a day going by where I don't experience the vitality that lies within all of us.

- Or Helen Keller, "Life is a Daring adventure or Nothing at All." Its amazing how the adventure only comes to the one who is open to it.

-And (source unknown), "Our deepest Fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond belief." I could not live another day without knowing that this power is my birthright.

-Joy, Freedom, expansion, vitality, exhilaration, adventure. Call it what you want to call it, or just call it LIFE. The meaning of life is that which we give it. And the real meaning comes from the decision we make to give it meaning. The meaning I've given to my life is to help people bring the magic back into their lives and to help them believe that they are worthy of it. I can't imagine something that is more important and that has more meaning to me than this. I came to the decision today that for me there is no such thing as not working. Because if my work leads me to joy, and if joy leads me to my work, than I am the most fortunate person on the planet. Why would I want a day off from being inspired. And its not just professional settings where I can bring magic into others lives, its social settings, and personal settings as well. For me, I've decided, why should work and play be separate. If we are all one in the universe, then I must be one with my work and my life. So, if someone asks me if I'm going to work today, I just assume respond 'I'm going to create magic. Today.' When Earl Campbell said, “Follow your Bliss,” I took him literally. I'm reminded of a meeting we had recently with a personal friend whose grandfather is one of the most successful people in the world. He is 86 now and they said he's starting to cut back on his work; he only comes into the office 6 days a week now instead of 7. Now there is someone who is following his bliss and no one can stand in judgment, not now or forever. After all, what is balance? It's just someone else’s interpretation of the meaning of their life.

Tell us about following your Bliss! It's different for every person.

Day 39 of PURPOSE – Have Fun!

Fridays are notoriously fun, happy days. So, here is an incentive for you to have an all- time awesome weekend. Check this out.

Day 38 of PURPOSE – Just Play

A would be composer walked up to Mozart one day and said, "How can I learn to Compose symphonies as you do?" Mozart looked at the man and said, "You are still young yet, why don't you start by learning vignettes." The young man looked at Mozart and said, "Yes, but you started writing symphonies when you were nine years old!!" Mozart looked at him and said, "Yes, but I never had to ask anyone how to do it." Mozart wasn't responding from a place of judgment or inflation, rather, he was being honest with the young man. Mozart's genius came not from just himself, but came from his ability to access all the infinite wisdom that is available to, all of us, in the universe at any given time. We reach a point where what were writing, what were speaking, what were composing, doesn't just come from what we know, but rather, it comes from a place of deep knowingness that exists within us, that can only be captured by connecting with all that exists outside of us. A friend of mine told me yesterday, that when we pray we are asking, BUT, when we meditate we are listening. Listening, means PAYING ATTENTION to all the signs around you that are guiding you to your full potential self. I suspect that Mozart was able to pay attention a little more than the rest of us. I guess in the end Mozart could look at the keys and 'Just Play.' Do you remember a situation in your life where you could 'Just Play?' Something that just came to you and you couldn't explain how? BLOG about it!

Tune in for tomorrow's teleconference on 'The Entire Secret.' You will be blown away by the process we discuss for ACTUALLY altering limiting beliefs that you have in your subconscious mind. You will get an overview of how to change these beliefs instantly!

Day 37 of PURPOSE – Turning Points

This should take you by surprise. Jim Collins, author of best selling book, 'Good to Great' was a student of the same course that I was, called 'Creativity in Business.' In this course, taught by Stanford Professor, Michale Ray we utilized a technique called heuristics, also known as 'live withs.' This experience turned out to be a major turning point in both Jim Collin's life as well as mine. The purpose of heuristics is to 'live with' a certain mindset day in and day out for an entire week. We chose a different 'live with' each week and tracked our experiences over a 12 week period. The way we tracked our experiences was by BLOGGING. This enabled all of us in the course to write about and share our experiences with one another. Its amazing how 12 hours a day, we can do one thing, WORK, and forget about the most important thing, OUR LIFE. In our current course on 'The Secret' we call this exercise of heuristics '2nd Life.' This week each of us is supposed to be practicing a certain 'live with.' My '2nd life' commitment is to Live with Vitality this week. What is yours? My experience today was that I decided to spend two hours down by the harbor returning phone calls. I chose the harbor because at sunset this is where I feel most connected and in spirit with the Universe. Would you believe that those two hours were the most productive part of my day. It is now 11 PST as I write this to you and I still feel the vitality. If it helped Jim Collins write a best seller and it works for me, you might consider implementing this method. It could be YOUR TURNING POINT!

Decide on your 'live with' and BLOG about it. 23 hrs and 55 minutes of doing and 5 minutes of reflection. That’s all it takes!

Day 36 of PURPOSE - Discover True Power

What is true Power? When is the last time you truly felt that energy within you? A quote that has stuck with me is "The vast majority of men live lives of quiet desperation" What does it feel like to stand out there on the edge and say, nothing is impossible for me! To stare fear in the eye every morning and resolve that greatness will get the best of you. To come face to face with failure, and know that faith will always prevail. Have you gone far enough out there beyond the limitations of your mind to access the infinite wisdom within you? Are you ready to be steadfast on your journey to greatness? I have created seven steps to the Law of Attraction and realizing your true power.

1. Know your burning desire

2. Connect with the seventh plane

3. Identify your limiting beliefs

4. Transform those beliefs

5. Command your desire

6. The Universe Responds

7. Receive with Gratitude

Anything short of these seven steps will not unlock your true power.

Day 35 of PURPOSE - Discover 'The Entire Secret'

Have you wondered why you are putting 'The Secret' to work and you are not achieving maximum results? Now, is the time to discover 'The Entire Secret.' Guess where 85% of your thoughts are coming from? The subconscious mind! Guess where your limiting beliefs are stored? The subconscious mind. Guess how much more powerful your subconscious mind is than your conscious mind? 30,000 Times more powerful!! So check this out, the majority of the time you may be articulating through your conscious mind what you desire, but 85% of the time the actions you take are coming from your subconscious mind. And if the actions that you are taking are based upon a belief structure that is limiting, what do you think the end result is going to be? Limiting your full potential. What I have created to maximize your results, is a seven step process to The Law of Attraction." One of the most important steps is identifying your beliefs that are limiting you and then changing those beliefs. There is actually a thorough process that I use to change these limiting beliefs, but the process can change these beliefs instantly. It will blow your mind! On this Friday we will be providing an overview of how this process works.

In the mean time, based on last Friday's call we have created an exercise we call '2nd Life'. On the call, you identified a feeling or quality that you wanted to have as a result of the new inspiring belief you created. Examples of this feeling may be Peace, Passion, Love, Joy, Happiness etc. Your 2nd Life commitment is, "I will live every moment possible this week in a state of (the feeling that you selected). The key to making this feeling a reality is to write about the experiences you are encountering, while implementing your 2nd life commitment. Write about it on the BLOG!

iMAPP—Discussion on ‘The SECRET’

Two Farmers desperately needed rain for their fields but only one went out and prepared the field. Guess who got rain? Which one are you?

=>Would you sell your Passion for A Billion Dollars? What’s your BELIEF about this? 22 year old CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg is the kid who turned down a billion dollars. “If you sell your company that is the EXIT. That’s just not how we THINK about it.”

=>Creating Inspiring Beliefs in your life:
- Make a list of all the ‘limiting beliefs’ you have in your life (ex. I’m not good enough, I can’t do that, I never win, only rich people are happy)
- Make a list of all the ‘inspiring beliefs’ you want to have in your life. (I am happy, I am the ideal person, I am attractive, I love my work)
- Circle one from each List. One you want to get rid of and one you want to keep

=>What is the feeling or Quality that you want to have in your life? (ex. Peace, Joy, Love, Passion) Why don’t you have it right now?

=>Living the next 7 days Inspired and Witnessing your results
- When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change

Check this out- Course on Business Innovation

CHECK THIS OUT! We have just created a course on business innovation. I don't care if you're an entrepreneur, a corporate executive, a teacher, an assistant, or a student. To reach a certain level of success you have to hear about what successful people and successful companies are doing. My partner, Moe Abdou, will be leading the course. I consider him to be one of the great innovative minds of our time, a leader in his own right, a pioneer, and a visionary. He will uncover and share with you leading edge innovations in the business world and work with you to implement these ideas into your lives, both personally and professionally. The format will be 30 minutes of Moe sharing ideas and 30 minutes of collaboration. Imagine, at the end of this four week course, one hour per week, you will be sharper than 99.9999% of the people you work with and surround yourself with. You'll be approaching your partner, boss, or spouse by saying, 'Have you ever looked at it from this perspective' because that’s what innovators do; they view the world from a different lens. Couple this course on business growth, with our current course on personal growth, and what kind of progress you think you will be making in your life. Amazing Power! All your time spent flipping through magazines for the latest idea, can now be covered in just one hour a week. The course start date isn't set yet. We are currently hosting our Discussion group on 'The Secret' and ‘The Law of Attraction" and will take that into consideration from a time perspective. Respond with you thoughts on our Blog and respond to this email if you think the course is a good idea.

Question: Considering our current Course is on Spirituality and Personal Fulfillment, How do you think Spirituality can have an impact in your professional life and vice versa? BLOG ABOUT IT! Jim Collins Says, 'To have a meaningful life, you must have meaningful work, and to have meaningful work, you must have a meaningful life."

Day 33 of PURPOSE – Discover yourself

Oprah recently shared her Daily prayer with the world, therefore we thought we would share a meditation process that can help bring more and more joy to everyone’s life. On our blog recently, a group of us have been talking about implementing a powerful meditation process in our lives, so here is one that I have found to be invaluable:

Imagine energy coming up though the bottom of your feet from the center of the earth and going up out of the top of your head as a beautiful ball of light. You are in this ball of light. Take time to notice what color it is. Now imagine going up above the universe. Now imagine going into the light above the universe, it is a big beautiful light. Imagine going up through the light and you will see another bright light, and another, and another, in fact there are many bright lights. Keep going. Between the lights is a little bit of dark light, but this is just a layer before the next light, so keep going. Finally there is a great big bright light. Go through it. When you go through it, you're going to see an energy, a jell-o-like substance, that has all the colors of the rainbow in it. When you go into it, you see that it changes colors. This is the Laws. You will see all kinds of shapes and colors. In the distance there is a white iridescent light; it is a hit-blue color like a pearl. Head for that light. Avoid the Deep blue, light because this is the law of magnetism. As you get closer, you may see a mist of pink color. Keep going until you see it. This is the Law of Compassion and it will push you into the special place. You will see that the pearlescent light is the shape of the rectangle, like a window. This window is really the opening to the Seventh plane. Now go through it. Go deep within it. See a deep whitish glow go through your body. Feel it, it feels light, but it has essence. You can feel it going through you; its as if you can no longer feel the separation between your own body and energy. You become "All That Is". Don't worry. Your Body will not disappear. It will become perfect and healthy. Remember there is just energy here, not people or things. So if you see people, go higher. It is from this place, that the "Creator of all that Is" can do healings that will heal instantly and that you can create in all aspects of your life.
After you go through this process you will feel that feeling of CONNECTEDNESS that you have been searching for. Join the conversation on the BLOG.

Day 32 of PURPOSE – Core Beliefs

Modern Science is coming out of the imperialism of its own dark ages and is now exploring the possibilities of power through thought. If we can send a microwave through the air that permits us to communicate with cell phones; It stands to reason that our brain can act in a similar way. Thoughts have real substance. A thought that you think over and over again becomes a belief. Did you know that beliefs actually go back generations? Sure you did, but did you know scientifically that within your DNA, is genetic memory that goes back at least seven generations. You're not just physical, you're also mental and spiritual energy as well. So, as we continue to talk about matching our beliefs with our desires to manifest what we are wanting, this is just the beginning. The process isn't that simple. However, as we get into the advanced stages of this course we will introduce a meditation process called ThetaHealing, which will help you modify your 'core beliefs' that are holding you back. Until then, tell us about your beliefs that may be holding you back. Join the conversation on the BLOG.

Day 31 of PURPOSE – What do you want?

What do you Want? We recently started a course and a discussion group on 'The Secret' and The Law of Attraction. Often times our daily conversations can be trivial and inconsequential. I sense that there are dormant forces in the human spirit that long desire meaningful and passionate conversations. Sometimes in trying to communicate what we want, we find ourselves with a desire that is ineffable "incapable of being expressed in words." However, we always know what we are feeling. Do you often find yourself, knowing what you are feeling, but not knowing what you are wanting? If you often find yourself in this situation, do you think that your clients are facing a similar obstacle to explaining to you what they truly desire. For as far back as we can remember, writing has been the creative gateway to expressing and discovering our desires. One does not have to be a poet, a journalist, or an author, you just have to think...................................................... think about what you are feeling, ponder it, explore it, write it and act on it. What do you want? Share it with others, invite your clients, and join the discussion.

Day 30 of PURPOSE – Identity Crisis

What do you do? Stop and think for a moment - you're standing in line at starbucks, having a great conversation with the person in front of you, when she asks you what you do? How do you respond - Are you a Financial Advisor? A mortgage professional? A Financial Planner? An entrepreneur? I could go on and on, I think you get the picture. I've often wondered why so many of us continue to be obsessed with job titles. Do you think people care more about what you do OR who you are?

Think of your heros; why were you drawn to them? Was it their job description or the difference they made in the world. When Bill Gates said that he would put a computer on every desk, he didn't simply create software; he changed the very nature of work. When Pierre Omidyar created E-bay, he didn't create an online person-to- person trading community; he created an entirely new marketplace, then added a bank, Paypal. Then a communication device, Skype. Today, E-bay has 180 million registered users, growing at 35% a year.

So what ideas are you fighting for? What’s your BIG purpose that will make the world a better place? Think about it and the next time someone asks you what you do - Answer why you do it instead. Happy weekend!

Day 29 of PURPOSE – Preserve The Core

I had a really inspiring conversation this afternoon discussing the topic of vision. I've always found this topic very intriguing because it is probably one of the least understood-yet most critical-concepts for building any great business. This is one topic that I can't discuss without referring to the great management thinker, Jim Collins. Not only did Jim teach us to embrace Big Hairy Audacious Goals, more importantly, he introduced us to the "preserve the core/stimulate progress" concept.

"The most enduring and successful corporations distinguish their timeless core values and enduring core purpose {which should never change} - from their operating practices and business strategies {which should be changing constantly in response to a changing world}. In truly great companies, change is a constant, but not the only constant. They understand the difference between what should never change and what should be open for change, between what is truly sacred and what is not. And by being clear about what should never change, they are better able to stimulate and progress in everything else."

Do you know what is core, and what is not?

Day 28 of PURPOSE – Straight from the Heart

One idea can change your life. And one person with the passion to serve, share and inspire can change the world. Thank you, Kevin Brunner for sharing your philosophy and your purpose. You're no ordinary 'financial advisor', and as you stated, your words and the words in this short video clip speak volumes for who you are and what you stand for. I urge everyone to read Kevin's blog post from yesterday and share this clip with anyone you truly care about.

Day 27 of PURPOSE – Never lose Faith!

If you had the opportunity to see the movie, Facing the Giants; I bet, you too were inspired by the power of faith. The story is about a high school football coach who, in his six years, never led his team to a winning season. When faced with seemingly insurmountable professional and personal crises, the idea of giving up has never come easier. It's only after an unexpected visitor challenges him to trust in the power of faith that he discovers the strength to persevere.

The defining moment in the movie came when the coach challenged his players to discuss 'The purpose of the team.' As expected, most felt that winning football games was the team's top priority; yet the coach challenged them to dig deeper. "It's not about You", he remarked, "You're playing for God." Thinking about our quest for purpose, I started to ponder the incredible power behind that statement - our day 1 of purpose. What would happen if each of us really shifted our perspective. How far can we go if we stopped thinking about closing that sale, and we started focusing on those we truly serve. Might our results change?

Day 26 of PURPOSE –Change the world!

The TED conference is one of the most remarkable and empowering gatherings on the planet. It takes place once a year in Monterey, CA and brings together more than 1000 of the most influential thought-leaders in Technology, Entertainment and Design ...... for four days of learning, laughter, and inspiration.

Each year TED honors three individuals who have shown that they can, in some way, positively impact life on the planet. The TED Prize, grants these individuals with one WISH to change the world. The winners may wish for anything and the TED community works together to make their wish come true. This year, former President Bill Clinton was one of the winners and courtesy of TED, here is the unedited version of his inspiring WISH. Please give a listen and share by clicking on the email link below.

Day 25 of PURPOSE – Room to Read

On Wednesday John Wood was a guest on the Oprah Winfrey show. Woods is the founder of a remarkable organization, Room to Read, which strives to provide children access to education. In 1998, John was an 'overworked Microsoft executive looking for the quiet solitude of a trekking vacation." While backpacking in Himalayas, John was invited to visit a school in a neighboring village, Nepal; little did he know that this short detour would change his life forever.

At the school, John came face to face with the harsh reality confronting millions of Nepalese children - very little resources; no opportunities to learn and most importantly, no books to read. As John left the village that day, the school headmaster made a simple request: "perhaps, sir, you will some day come back with books." His request inspired John to return home and begin an email campaign to friends and family asking for help in collecting books. Within 2 month, 3,000 books arrived. John returned to Nepal to deliver the books and made the decision to leave his executive position at Microsoft in order to devote himself to starting a new non-profit with a belief that "World Change Starts Educated Children." Room to Read has been a winner of Fast Company's Social Capitalists Award every year since The magazine and The Monitor Group began the Awards in 2004. I invite each of you to scan the Room to Read web site to get a glimpse of how one's person living his purpose, can change the world. Happy weekend.

Day 24 of PURPOSE – Oprah's Prayer

Oprah's one of the most amazing people on the planet and truly one of my heros. Her contributions to the world are without peer and her example inspires millions each day. My wife, Sherry, shared with me Oprah's daily prayer and I loved it and wanted to share with each of you:

Dear God,
I give this day to you.
May my mind stay centered on the things of spirit.
May I not be tempted to stray from love.
As I begin this day, I open to receive You.
Please enter where you already abide.
May my mind and heart be pure and true, and may I not deviate from the things of goodness.
May I see the love and innocence in all mankind, behind the masks we all wear and the illusions of this worldly plan.
I surrender to You my doings this day.
I ask only that they serve You and the healing of the world.
May I bring Your love and goodness with me, to give unto others wherever I go.
Make me the person You would have me to be.
Direct my footsteps, and show me what You world have me do.
Make the world a more safer, more beautiful place.
Bless all your creatures.
Heal us all, and use me, dear Lord, that I might know the joy of being used by You.
Amen.

Day 23 of PURPOSE – Happiness

Do you know what makes you happy? As you stop and ponder this question, you may close your eyes and begin to visualize a new luxury car, a vacation in Paris, a sumptuous meal, or that perfect relationship. However, when you project yourself into the future like this, you're likely to make a predictable set of errors. In his truly fascinating book, Stumbling on Happiness, Daniel Gilbert, professor of psychology at Harvard University discovers that "When we try to predict what will make us happy, we're often wrong. Research all over the world find the same predictable errors, whether the pursuit involves romance, a new car, or a sumptuous meal."

Happiness; therefore, is never as good as we imagine it to be and it never lasts as long as we think it will. But the same also holds true for unhappiness. So what's the secret to a happy life? According to Gilbert, start with the fact that happiness is not a permanent possession. It's a state that you move in and out of. "The fact that you're not always happy is not a problem, so don't look for a solution when there is no problem." he recommends.

Next, develop your own philosophy of happiness. " Look at your own life, and ask what has brought you the most Joy. Most times the answer lies in people, in friends and family. It comes mainly from relationships, not from stuff." He notes.
Finally, look to others who have already made the decisions you face. "Try to honestly figure out how happy they are." How's that for perspective!

Day 22 of PURPOSE – use your ‘story’

In the winter of 1961, 7 year-old Howard Schultz, founder and Chairman of Starbucks, was throwing snowballs with friends outside his family's apartment building in the federally subsidized Bayview Housing Projects in Brooklyn. "Howard, come inside," his mother yelled down from their 7th floor apartment. "Dad had an accident." What followed would shape him for the rest of his life. He found his father in a full-leg cast, after falling on a sheet of ice and breaking his ankle. As a result, he lost his job-and the family's medical benefits. Schultz's mother couldn't go to work because she was 7 month pregnant.

"I was surrounded by people who were working hand-to-mouth trying to pay the bills, who felt like there was no hope and they just couldn't get a break. That's something that never leaves you-never." His past influenced his whole approach to shaping, and leading a company. "I wanted to build the kind of company my father never had a chance to work for." Today, Starbucks employs 145,000 people, all of whom earn more than minimum wage, receive stock options, and get health-care benefits. Can you look back to one particular incident that inspires change?

Day 21 of PURPOSE – A Brand new thought!

"We absolutely love this piece by Cisco. It captures the future of human networks and the essence of iEvolution. Enjoy and please share!"

Day 20 of PURPOSE – An important question to Ponder

One of my favorite all-time books on the subject of purpose and happiness, is Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's "Flow." My greatest take-away is that happiness, like success, cannot be pursued. This simple, yet profound message has impacted my life more than any other experience. "Happiness is not something that happens. It is not the result of good fortune or random chance. It is not something that money can buy or power command. It does not depend on outside events, but, rather on how we interpret them. Happiness is a condition that must be prepared for, cultivated, and defended privately by each person. People who learn to control inner experience will be able to determine the quality of their lives."

So as we prepare for Ted's call this morning on the Secret, behind The Secret, I take you into the weekend with an important question to ponder - If happiness and success cannot be pursued, why do the great majority of us aim at it? Enjoy your weekend. Watch the Final Four. And Cheer for the Hoyas to win it all. Good thinking!

Day 19 of PURPOSE – Seek Challenges

Being from the Washington DC area, this is an exciting time of year for me watching the Georgetown Hoyas reach the final four. It's been 11 years since the Hoyas challenged for a national championship; yet the talk this week has focused on one player, one pass and one game dated back to 1982. In the closing seconds of that national championship game, freshman Michael Jordan hit a jump shot with 12 seconds to play to put North Carolina ahead 63-32. Georgetown ran all the way to the end of the court, and held the ball, hoping to take a last-second shot to end the game. However, guard Fred Brown was being guarded too tightly to take a shot, and he mistakenly passed the ball to James Worthy to end the game.

Imagine being, 19 year-old, Fred Brown with your picture on the cover of every newspaper in the country. Every imaginable theory emerged- Was he trying to fix the game, was it his eye-sight, or was it simply a mistake. Looking back, Fred openly discusses that split second as the turning point in his life. Here was a young perfectionist who learned through that split second, that life will never be perfect; in fact it's downright daunting on occasion. Yet, only when you persist and prevail do you realize that adversity is the greatest teacher of all. Might we pursue a great purpose that challenges each ounce of our energy?

Day 18 of PURPOSE – Why not?

I was at Starbucks this morning, in between meetings, and observed a fascinating encounter. Setting across from me was a middle aged Korean man with his mentor preparing, for what appears to be a job interview. Although, the Korean gentleman spoke very broken English, his smile and enthusiasm spoke volumes. As his mentor prepared him for what's to come, he looked at him and said "I can be whatever I want, why not?" I couldn't help but walk up to him and wish him well.

As we chatted for a moment, he mentioned to me that he wanted to build the next Startbucks. His goal was to work for a coffee house, learn the tricks of the trade and ultimately put his name on the door. Not only was I inspired by his passion, I was reminded of my favorite quote by George Bernard Shaw - "Some men see things as they are and say, "Why?" I dream of things that never were and say, "Why not?" Each one of us needs something to believe in, something to make our life meaningful. obviously, that Korean gentleman believes the world needs another Starbucks - Why Not?

Day 17 of PURPOSE – Answer two questions

Hope that you guys had an awesome start of the week and found a little time to reflect on how you might start 'unpacking your bag.' Today, Richard Lieder challenges us to ask ourselves two critical questions and answer them honestly: What do you want? And how will you know when you get it? These aren't decisions you can just think your way through. They involve emotion more than great ideas.

"People really do have their own solutions. The problem is, either they don't know how to discover them, or they avoid discovering them. But if you want to come up with good decisions for your work and your life, simply ask those two questions-because it all comes down to very simple things."

Day 16 of PURPOSE –Be a smart team player

My ex-boss would always start his meetings with "This meeting will take X minutes. If you feel the meeting won't add value to you or vice versa or if you have something more important to attend to, please feel free to leave anytime, but please be engaged whilst you are here". Over time, as colleagues realized that he sincerely meant it, the meetings became shorter and effective, with active participation by attendees.

Talent is valuable yet individual brilliance rarely leads to success. It's possible to be part of a group yet retain your individuality.

Don't just be another face in the crowd, be a smart team player.

Posted by Sangeet Kothari

Day 15 of PURPOSE – Life is a spiral

One of my favorite thought leaders on the subject of Purpose and Passion is, Richard Leider. In January 1998, Fast Company spoke with Richard about his "laws" for living with purpose. In that article, he described a visual exercise that I've never forgotten; give it a shot. "Draw a little spiral, something like a tornado going upwards. That spiral represents the different phases you encounter in your life. There are times in life when you're on a plateau, where things are well balanced. Then along comes a triggering event that knocks you into limbo.

When that trigger occurs, you have to put all your energy into handling the situation, whether it's an emergency at work, the death of a close friend, or your own health crisis. .... ....That puts you into the third part of the spiral: a period of uncertainty. Something is ending, something else is about to begin-but you're between the ending and the beginning. To get out of limbo, you have to look at everything you've been carrying with you. You have to unpack your bag and then repack it, so you can go on to the next phase of your life." Pretty deep stuff. Share your thoughts and we'll continue exploring Richard's insights. Start unpacking.

Day 14 of PURPOSE – Escaping the past

I read a real cool story today, retold by Keith Yamashita and Sandra Spataro, that got me thinking about our 40 days of purpose- In June 1962, Alcatraz prisoners Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin made a break for it. Although serious doubts exist about the success of the escape, the jailbreak remains the only "unresolved" case in the history of The Rock. The escape plan involved handmade drills, guard uniforms, and imitation human heads to deter nighttime guards. The men took to the water using raincoats as crude life vests and a makeshift raft. The police investigation turned up all the tools of the escape, but no sign of these three men.
You might be thinking how this might relate to purpose –

1.} Desperate times may require desperate measures, don't wait for a crisis.
2.} Be methodical. Be sequential. Every gain is a step in the right direction.
3.} Stay out of jail, creating purpose is about finding what's true and magnifying it, not making up a whole new story.

Day 13 of PURPOSE – Better than who?

I had a very stimulating conversation, with a potential iEvolution member, today in which we discussed her critical objectives for the reminder of the year. As I was listening, it was clear to me that her focus was on outperforming her competition. As I probed a bit, I learned that she felt inferior to some of the leading advisors in the community because of their creativity and experience. Having spend 21 years in corporate America, I realize that our competitors certainly play a role in our business. But, do we react too quickly?

I once heard investment great, Nick Murray say that, "You're compete only with yourself." That has always hit home with me. One of the more damaging fallacies that each of us can fall in to is comparing ourselves with others, when we should be compared, only to ourselves. How far we've come and how far we have left to go. We should draw inspiration from those we admire; perhaps our greatest competitors are our greatest teachers.

Day 12 of PURPOSE – Our Family

Ok this time the iThought is coming from Ranganathittu bird’s sanctuary, India. On this weekend break I had the opportunity to watch some amazing scenes from wild life that made me think about purpose of being human. I captured this Painted Stork in my camera not because it was giving me a pose but because it was protecting the babies inside nest.

I knew I have something to learn here. The lesson was not whether I would do the same for my kids but have I done enough for my parents who might have done the same as this bird in the picture. What is the purpose of being an offspring?

Posted by Meetu Singhal

Day 11 of PURPOSE – Profiles in Courage

I had the opportunity, this weekend, to work with my son, Adam, on his profiles in courage book report featuring, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As we chronicled the life of of America's civil rights leader, we learned about a man living each day in pursuit of his dream. His purpose, of course, was to bring freedom and equal rights to an entire race. Here was a perfect example of one person who single handedly changed the world. He fought to help the poor. He was jailed 13 times because he refused to back down. To this day, King remains a controversial symbol of the African American civil rights struggle, yet his dream lives on.
In 1964, Dr King became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peach Prize for his work as a peacemaker, promoting nonviolence and equal treatment for all. Today, only a few of us live with such conviction. Perhaps, if we did, our work and our dreams would be worth die for!

Day10 of PURPOSE – Our Destiny

On the first day of the annual TED conference last week in Monterey, Designer, Philippe Starck made a profound statement that really got me thinking. He remarked that "'God' is the answer we give when we don't know the answer. When our vision isn't big enough." He referenced the fact where we came from as human beings; we couldn't have imagined where we are now and where we might be in the future. I am a firm believer that 'God' has left the world incomplete for us to getting working. Philippe's comments made me realize that our paths are filled with as much challenge as opportunity; as much good as bad. In the end, life is a test; one of resolve, courage and most importantly gratitude. Is your vision really yours?

Day 9 of PURPOSE – We are all Teachers

One of the greatest insights that I gained from our call yesterday and certainly from our most recent iE live retreat, is that we're all teachers. We may be good teachers or bad ones, but in the end we are all teachers of something. Everyday, our actions and behaviors speak volumes for who we are and what we stand for. This afternoon, as I was stopped at a light, a homeless person approached me; he stopped at my window, stared at my, and didn't say a word for about 15 seconds. As I handed him money and a cold bottle of water; he instantly smiled, whispered "God won't forget you", and slowly walked away.
For that brief moment, I had this enormous sense of appreciation that I had lived out my purpose for the day. I live for the opportunity where I can help someone; teaching to me involves more than unpacking stories or sharing insights; we teach when we help one another love our families, make wise decisions, stay out of debt and pass on the gifts that we have so fortunate to receive. Who did you teach today?

Day 8 of PURPOSE – Choose to be a cheerleader at work

At workplaces these days, we see a lot of edgy people who are worried about their prospect and business opportunities. According to David Granirer, we often try to control our reaction to the work situation in which we find ourselves. The big question for both individuals and organizations is: how do you keep up spirits, continue to work efficiently, and sustain health and wisdom in a crazy-making situation?

Michael Kerr – the workplace energizer – is "Creating inspiring, healthy and more productive workplaces by putting humour to work!"

David Granirer tells you more, how do you help employees, who have little or no control over external events, survive a crazy-making situation? Organizations need to encourage employees to take control over the one aspect of the situation they do control - how they choose to respond to it.

So what stops you using your sense of humor at work?

Day 7 of PURPOSE – Heroism

Sam Walton took pride in helping his employees build self-esteem. Aristotle made Excellence a way of life. And Tom Watson lived to challenge the status quo. Lastly, the drive for Heroism resulted in Bill Gates' plan to put his operating system onto every computer.

Heroism is not the "winning" or the specific goals themselves that tap into broader human aspirations, but the ambition, daring or heroism evident in those goals. Henry Ford was by far the most famous industrial hero of his day. At first sight, his ambition to "democratize the automobile" and his introduction of the $5 day for his workers might indicate a strongly altruistic Purpose, a desire to bring happiness to customers and workers alike. But this is an illusion. The specific social and economic goals that he pursued at different times were less important to him than his ambition to use the Ford Motor Company as his "machine." He certainly exercised his will to improve the world.

Each of us aspires for greatness. Although I crave the capacity to lead, my greatest satisfaction comes when I can help others become hero. How about you?

Day 6 of PURPOSE – Altruism

Aristotle taught us that Excellence is a habit; a way of life. Tom Watson of IBM, challenged us to THINK afresh. Today, Nikos examines a benevolent ethic that lies behind a good proportion of small businesses - Altruism.

Altruism is a major focus behind major political movements, charities and a whole range of businesses that exist primarily to serve their customers. Altruism may take the form of personal service beyond formal obligation - as Nordstrom does. Delivering products at affordable prices - as Sam Walton's Wal-Mart; or using technology and ideas to improve the lives of people - as Hewlett-Packard does. In these examples, altruism is directed at the customer, but it does not have to be. For Anita Roddick of the Body Shop, and other leaders of so called new age businesses, altruism and customer benefit are distinct. In her case, the altruism is directed at animals, and to some extent her staff. Service businesses often "care" about their staffs, which in turn care for customers-an approach summed up by Federal Express as "People-Service-Profit."

Service is about Emotion; you can't fake it. The desire to care for other's well-being as well as our own-indeed we maximize our own happiness only by taking into account the happiness of others. Would you trade your selfish pleasures for the moral instinct to care for others?

Day 5 of PURPOSE – Excellence!

So are you inspired by drive to Discover! Yesterday, we discussed that a purpose rooted in Discovery involves a love for the new. Tom Watson of IBM was a perfect exponent of this idea. "THINK" was the slogan that he plastered around the company urging his salesmen to think of each situation afresh. He rejected convention, and always preferred the new. Today we discuss Nikos' second of his four moral ideas - Excellence.

Excellence at its essence implies high standards, like those of an artist, defined by the craft itself rather than by the customers; it involves a never-ending struggle to achieve ever higher standards, such as those at Toyota or Apple. Excellent businesses prefer to turn away customers rather than compromise their quality standards. This type of purpose is rooted in the belief that excellent performance is our role in life represents the supreme good. Not that the pursuit of excellence and profit maximization need conflict: Warren Buffet is one of the best examples in modern business of having achieved both.

This is a tricky one! We’re obsessed with excellence and at the same time, we're driven by innovation. As we invent we almost have to reinvent to get something right. Does that mean we settle for less than the standard of excellence? Tough one.