Opportunity Knocks. Will You Answer?
Presenting the Opportunity Knocks EZine

Produced by

Tim Johnson
and
No Time Lost Enterprises

Volume 1, Issue 11
May 14, 2001

Welcome to the OK-EZine! Presented here are ideas, concepts, strategies and tactics for those ready to embrace the New, the Daring and the Possibilities.

Feedback is always welcome. Please send all comments to timj@notimelost.com. Positive and Negative are welcome.

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CONTENTS:

1.) Power Thought - Cost of Failure vs. The Price of Success

2.) Recommended Resource - 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

3.) Featured Website - Zig Ziglar Training Systems

4.) Main Article - Who Is In Charge?

5.) Subscribe/Unsubscribe Info

1.) Power Thought - Cost of Failure vs. The Price of Success

Have you ever heard the quote: "You must pay the price of success."? Well, that may be true, however I like the way Zig Ziglar says it: "You must ENJOY the price of success."

That is so true. If you cannot enjoy the steps to success, then it probably doesn't lead to true success. Generally, you pay, or enjoy if you prefer, the price of success once, on the way. But what about the reverse? What about the cost of failure? Did you know that you pay the cost of failure your entire life?

Failure is like a negative residual income. Instead of paying you over a lifetime, you pay over a lifetime. Pretty scary.

Worst of all, the cost of failure is ALWAYS, YES ALWAYS, HIGHER than the price of success. You will never pay more for success than you pay for failure.

So, what would you rather do? Enjoy the price of success once or pay the cost of failure over a lifetime?

2.) Recommended Resource - 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

John Maxwell in my not so humble opinion is the absolute best author on leadership. He has written several books on leadership that are absolutely incredible. Check out The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership first. It is a great book on the principles of leadership. Maxwell covers each Law with excellent stories and examples to illustrate the point. I highly recommend the audio version too. Maxwell has a great voice for this subject!

21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

Study Guide

Audio Version

3.) Featured Website - Zig Ziglar Training Systems

Zig is probably one of the best known of all motivational gurus. And for good reason, too. He's got this great, disarming, down-home way of sneaking his point past you to whack you upside the head. At his website you will be able to buy his books and tapes as well as sign up for his weekly email newsletter. Go there now!

http://www.zigziglar.com\

4.) Main Article - Who Is In Charge?

Who is in charge of your life? If you are like me, your first response to this question is going to me, "Me!" But are you really? We are all influenced by other people, the culture, our responsibilities, our desires and wants and a thousand other things.

When you decide that you aren't ready for the next opportunity that comes your way, who made that decision? Was it influenced by years of negative thoughts driven into your brain by family and friends? Or was it because we honestly assessed ourselves and realized we needed something else first? Did you make that decision because you thought that was what someone else wanted? People are motivated by 2 basic impulses which are expressed in an infinite number of ways: the desire to gain pleasure and the desire to avoid pain or loss. And generally you will do more to keep what you have than you will to gain something you want.

We do that because we let someone else be in charge. We let our fears (which are almost always irrational) tell us what to do. Were you born with those fears? No. Babies have two innate fears: loud noises and being dropped. Which explains why no one is indifferent about roller coasters! Lots of noise and drops.

Ask yourself this: What has been behind my decisions? Fear of loss? Desire for gain? How about this one: Desire to avoid pain?

That is generally big in relationships. Far too often the other half of our relationship is influencing our decisions. Even when they don't realize it. We do it to them too. Too often we act upon what we THINK they want instead of working together.

So, how do you take charge?

The absolute first thing, and I apologize for harping on this, is to get clear on your own vision and goals. It has been said over and over by many people: "If you aren't working on your own goals, you are working on someone else's."

When you have a clear vision and goals, it is easy to tell when you have made and are making decisions on your own or letting someone else be in charge. You make decisions based on the vision and goals. You don't fear the consequences of your acts. You don't dwell on the outcomes, because you have faith you are moving in the right direction.

Decisions that do the opposite, cause worry and fear, will destroy your confidence and keep you shackled to low expectations and even lower outcomes.

The key is to figure out where you are going. Then you can figure out how you will get there. Until then, you are going where someone else wants you to go. And sometimes that is OK. It will often lead you to new opportunities, if you are prepared to act on them. Just don't let it become a way of life.

The second step in taking charge is to learn what makes you tick by becoming aware of what has directed your decisions in the past. Do that self-examination of past actions that were positive and ones that were negative. Contrast what the motivating factors were. See what outside influences have had good and bad effects on you. When you understand these things, you are better prepared to make positive decisions and move forward.

The third step in taking charge is to become a leader for yourself. Being in charge makes you your own leader. Leaders need a vision that is compelling to those being led. You should have gotten that in the first step. When you lead yourself, you do it by beginning to take steps toward your vision and achieving your goals. You start directing your decisions with your vision and goals. You don't second guess them. When something goes wrong, you correct it and move on.

Eventually, you will get the hang of it. It's not easy to do but it is absolutely essential to get started. After all, do you want your boss, the losers in life, your mother-in-law (kidding :) or yourself calling the shots?

Thanks,

Tim Johnson
timj@notimelost.com